Watching the Republicans debate FISA amendments over the last number of days, one theme keeps coming up in their speeches. The Republicans are acting like only the Intelligence Committee has jurisdiction on FISA. They keep referring to the fact that the Rockefeller bill is bipartisan and they want retroactive immunity, etc.

What they refuse to recognize is that the Senate Judiciary Committee also has jurisdiction on this matter and what the SJC said – no RI, no bulk collection, minimization, etc – is equally applicable for consideration.

I wonder what would give them the idea that the SSCI interpretations of FISA reform legislation has complete and total precedence over the SJC work on the legislation?

Could it possibly be that Harry Reid’s decision to make the SSCI bill the underlying bill contributed to this position? Perish the thought…