“If Congress does not approve an overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) by Memorial Day, intelligence community officials will have to prepare dozens of individual surveillance warrants, a cumbersome alternative to the broader wiretapping authority granted by the Protect America Act…” (The Hill, 4/30/08)

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The Hill, 4/30/08: “Blue Dogs on Hoyer’s FISA Leash” “Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.) … is keeping his eye on conservative Blue Dog Democrats who might defect on the issue under Republican pressure.  “…House Republicans launched a discharge petition to press Blue Dog Democrats to support a Senate-passed bill. … “Republicans will focus their efforts on Blue Dogs, especially the 21 conservatives who signed a January letter to Pelosi announcing their support for the Senate intelligence bill.”

CongressDaily, 5/8/08: “…[P]ressure on Hoyer from the Blue Dog Coalition appears to be growing. “Sources said the Blue Dogs are threatening to use obstructionist tactics to force a Senate-passed FISA bill to the House floor for a vote if Hoyer does not strike a satisfactory agreement by the Memorial Day recess. “This would align the Blue Dogs with House Republicans, who prefer the Senate bill…” NOTE: The Senate FISA bill is also preferred by: A bipartisan group of 25 state attorneys general; Countless editorial boards around the country; The 2.1-million member Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Sen. Barack Obama’s intelligence adviser.