[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H1227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ON FISA, PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS PLAY POLITICS WITH NATIONAL SECURITY

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, neither the public nor the press are buying 
into the scare tactics coming out of the White House and the Republican 
leadership here on Capitol Hill about the expiration of the President's 
supposed Protect America Act. Here are just a few of the editorial 
examples in papers from around the Nation.
  The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote that, ``The President's assertion 
that our country is in more danger of an attack is patently 
ridiculous.'' The Miami Herald writes that, ``Once again, the 
administration has claimed that if it doesn't get its way, the 
terrorists win. Unfortunately, the administration is resorting to 
exaggeration and hyperbole to make its case.'' The Syracuse Post 
Standard concluded that ``Congress should take the time to get this 
legislation right.''
  Mr. Speaker, Congressional Democrats are serious about passing a 
strong FISA law that gives our intelligence community the legal tools 
necessary to protect our national security, and that is why bicameral 
negotiations continue. But, unfortunately, Republicans refuse a seat at 
that table.

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