Daily DigestVeto of Wiretap Measure Is Threatened - washingtonpost.com
The White House warned Democratic leaders yesterday that President Bush would veto a proposal to extend an expiring surveillance law by 30 days, saying that Congress should quickly approve a Senate bill favored by the Bush administration.
The move is aimed at forcing Congress to renew and expand the Protect America Act -- which is due to expire at the end of the day Thursday -- and escalates a national security showdown between Democrats and the White House just before the president's annual State of the Union address.
A senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of ongoing negotiations with Congress, said lawmakers "have had six months to not pass a bill -- they don't need 30 more days to not pass a bill."
The veto threat prompted a swift condemnation from Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), who called the warning "irresponsible" and said Bush was "posturing" just before Monday night's speech.