Republicans Attend Surveillance Bill Meeting… But Progress Unclear

A breakthrough of bipartisan comity? A joining of hands? A ray of hope?

The Politico reports that a number of Republicans are attending a meeting today about surveillance issues — the first time that Republicans have attended such a meeting. Ever since House and Senate Democrats began talks last week to work out a compromise between the houses two versions, Republicans have boycotted the discussions. That can only mean progress, right?

Wrong. Sen. Kit Bond’s (R-MO) spokeswoman sends word that Bond, the ranking member of the Senate intelligence committee is only attending the meeting to hear from the director of national intelligence about the “degradation of intelligence” since the Protect America Act expired almost two weeks ago — “not to renegotiate the bipartisan terrorist surveillance compromise.”

So it’s still the Senate bill (with retroactive immunity) or nothing.

Meanwhile, the Politico also notes that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said this morning that he’s “very hopeful” that the House could take up surveillance legislation next week. Whether that signals progress in the ongoing discussions between Democrats — Senate intelligence committee Chair Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) advocates granting the telecoms retroactive immunity, while the other chairmen taking part are opposed — is still to be seen.