The debate over whether to grant telecommunications carriers immunity for their role in President Bush's warrantless domestic spying program is back before the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate Feb. 12 rejected two efforts to hold telephone companies legally liable for allegedly providing customer telephone and e-mail records-often without a warrant or subpoena-to the government. On a 31-67 vote, the Senate defeated an amendment to the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) renewal that would have stripped away immunity from the carriers, which are currently facing civil lawsuits over their cooperation with the White House.
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