In yet another ironic decision, the government decided last night that we’re not allowed to watch them discuss how they’ve watched us. The House of “Representatives” met in an hour-long secret session Thursday night to debate revisions to federal surveillance laws at Republican request. House minority whip Roy Blunt called for the closed session, saying that it was necessary in order to argue against Democrats with classified information.

This is the first time the chamber has been closed since 1983, when the House was discussing efforts to illegally overthrow the government of Nicaragua. All Democrats eventually agreed to the request with the exception of Dennis Kucinich. “We ought to be proceeding with the utmost caution in going in this direction,” said Kucinich, who refused to stay for the secret session.

Bush and the Republicans have urged the House to grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that broke the law in order to take place with the Bush administration’s illegal warrantless wiretapping program. The Senate has already voted to protect big business from lawsuits.

The House held an open debate on the Democratic bill at 10am this morning, passing Democratic amendments which enhance oversight of the Administration’s surveillance activities, and requires that the government obtain a FISA court order when targeting American citizens. The House bill also does not provide retroactive immunity for telecom companies but allows the courts to determine whether lawsuits should proceed. Yesterday, Bush called the Democratic plan “a partisan bill that would undermine America’s security.”

source
h/t Crooks and Liars