Liberal Democrats might not like this, but it is best for America and our security: Deal Close on Wiretap Law, a Top Democrat Tells CNN

From The New York Times:

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee hinted Sunday that a battle over an expired eavesdropping law might be moving toward a conclusion that gave phone companies the retroactive legal protections long sought by President Bush.

The chairman . . . suggested that he might be moving toward a Senate bill, backed by Mr. Bush, that would protect phone companies that assisted in a federal program of wiretapping without warrants after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The main point of the dispute over renewing the legislation concerns whether to immunize phone companies from at least 40 lawsuits that allege their actions after 9/11 violated privacy laws.

“They’re getting sued for billions of dollars and it’s not fair,” Mr. Bush said on Feb. 25. “And it will create doubt amongst private-sector folks who need to help protect us.”