Yesterday's debate over a new FISA bill and telecom immunity was shifted to today so Congress could attend the funeral of Jessie Helms. So far the voting doesn't look good if you're opposed to telecom immunity, with all three anti-telco immunity amendments being defeated (see vote results for Dodd amendment, Specter amendment and Bingaman amendment). A vote on the whole FISA bill will take place this afternoon when the Senate returns from lunch.

Should it pass (and it's expected to), the cases against the baby bells for handing over private consumer voice and Internet data without a warrant will be scrapped. The government's warrantless wiretapping authority will also be greatly expanded. Critics (particularly civil libertarians) are hammering Democrats and Presidential hopeful Barack Obama for both helping the President cover his wrong doing and trading citizen rights to protect Ma Bells' wallet.