Phone companies likely to get immunity for wiretapping
Senate Democrats concede they probably lack the votes needed to stop a White House-backed plan to give immunity to phone utilities that helped the National Security Agency's eavesdropping, and they are seeking to put off the vote for another month.
The Senate delayed a vote in December, and it is scheduled to take up the issue again beginning Thursday.
Putting off the vote for a second time riled White House officials and Republicans on Tuesday, because they insist national security will be put at risk if Congress does not meet a Feb. 1 deadline to amend the eavesdropping law.
