Jeffries: Democrats won’t help Johnson break FISA impasse

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said Thursday that Democrats will not support Republican leaders in procedural votes to advance legislation that expands government surveillance powers.

Nineteen conservative Republicans joined forces with all House Democrats on Wednesday to advance a bipartisan proposal to update controversial provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and other Republican messaging bills. Tried to pass rules governing it.

In an unusual development, the underlying bill was effectively blocked from a vote on the floor. And this could lead Democrats, who overwhelmingly support FISA reauthorization, to break with tradition and help House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) bring a standalone FISA bill to the floor. gave rise to speculation.

But when asked on Thursday whether Democrats supported such a strategy and whether he had discussed the topic with Johnson, Mr. Jeffries was curt.

“No, no,” he told reporters at the Capitol.

The Democratic opposition eliminates one of the small list of options already being considered by Prime Minister Johnson to break the impasse over FISA Section 702 reauthorization. It is a proposal that Johnson opposed as a member of the Judiciary Committee, but which he now supports as chair.

In one scenario, he could avoid the need for the rule by putting the FISA bill on the suspension calendar. This is a fast-track mechanism that requires two-thirds of the chamber to pass. But this is a tall hurdle, and some FISA supporters worry it may not be achievable, given opposition from lawmakers of both parties to the government’s warrantless surveillance powers.

Johnson is also considering a strategy of tweaking the language of the current FISA bill to win support from 19 conservative critics and sending it back to the Rules Committee for another try.

“We’re going to find a way to lift the rules. And I think it’s possible,” Johnson said Wednesday night. “I mean, there’s some disagreements. But I think everyone, most people, understand the need to get this right and get it done.”

One change Prime Minister Johnson is said to be considering is reducing the Section 702 reauthorization period from five years to two years, a key demand of hardliners. That would likely give FISA critics in the White House an early opening to change the law, with former President Donald Trump announcing his opposition to the reauthorization bill this week.

Jeffries declined to say Thursday whether he supported a two-year renewal, saying he wanted to first discuss the change with the top Democrats on the Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees.