They Voted For You: Foreign Wiretaps

U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-1st, voted over the weekend "to expand the government's abilities to eavesdrop without warrants on foreign suspects whose communications pass through the United States," The Associated Press reports.

Reps. Alan Mollohan, D-1st, and Nick Rahall, D-3rd, voted against the "Protect America Act," which passed 227-183.

"The administration said the measure is needed to speed the National Security Agency's ability to intercept phone calls, e-mails and other communications involving foreign nationals ''reasonably believed to be outside the United States,"" AP reported. "Civil liberties groups and many Democrats said it goes too far, possibly enabling the government to wiretap U.S. residents communicating with overseas parties without adequate oversight from courts or Congress."

The AP article also notes that "Congressional Democrats won a few concessions in negotiations earlier in the week. New wiretaps must be approved by the director of national intelligence and the attorney general, not just the attorney general," and that "the new law also will expire in six months unless Congress renews it. The administration wanted the changes to be permanent."