Bush signs surveillance expansion

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President Bush yesterday signed into law an expansion of the government's power to eavesdrop on foreign terrorism suspects without the need for warrants.

The law, approved by the Senate and the House just before Congress adjourned for its summer break, was a priority for Mr. Bush, who signed the bill at Camp David.

"When our intelligence professionals have the legal tools to gather information about the intentions of our enemies, America is safer," he said.

The bill updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. It gives the government leeway to intercept, without warrants, communications between foreigners that are routed through equipment in United States, provided that "foreign intelligence information" is at stake.

The new law will expire in six months unless Congress renews it. The administration wanted the changes to be permanent.

Meanwhile, Democrats began Congress' August break today touting their legislative victories — including three of six top campaign promises — since assuming the majority in January.

Lawmakers worked overtime last week to pass the wiretapping bill and to add new ethics rules to the list of Democrats' promises fulfilled, along with raising the federal minimum wage and implementing the remaining September 11 commission recommendations.

Democrats' remaining "Six for '06" campaign promises include expanding access to health care, making college more affordable and shoring up the retirement system.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that the Democrat-led Congress had put "the public interest ahead of the special interests" and changed the way business is done on Capitol Hill.

"Whether it's giving working families a long-overdue pay raise, implementing key 9/11 commission recommendations, providing health care coverage to millions of children and giving more students the opportunity to achieve a college education, Democrats have worked hard and will continue to fight for a new direction for our nation," the Nevada Democrat said.