SA 1274. Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself and Mr. GRAHAM) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1256, to protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products, to amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of division B, add the following:

TITLE __X--DETAINEE PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDS PROTECTION...

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR01256:

This time, they didn't tack on Leahy's Open FOIA Act.

As always, thank you for expanding on and clarifying these confusing processes.

I'd be extremely concerned that he and his administration are spending so much time & energy covering up crimes rather than focusing on the economy, health care, global warming, workers' rights...

"To me, it's a life and death bill," Graham said, after confirming that a filibuster is on the table. He said the White House has not only been supportive, but hands-on in the crafting of the FOIA exemption. "They had us write the language," he said. "They've been very, very helpful."

link @ sig

TAPPER: Two questions about developments today. One regarding the Ghailani trial -- him being flown to the United States -- if any of the detainees who are brought to trial through the U.S. criminal courts, or even through military commissions -- if any of them are found not guilty, will the administration let them free?

GIBBS: Well, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals about...

TAPPER: Forget the military commissions.

GIBBS: I'm not going to get into hypotheticals about the court cases either.

TAPPER: Well, this is an important part of -- you're talking about a credible justice system; bringing these people to justice. You've spoken at great length about this -- the president has. If they are found not guilty, will they be found...

GIBBS: Well, let's discuss that if it ever comes to fruition.

TAPPER: But isn't that what is underlying a credible justice system? The idea that if you're found not guilty, you'll be free?

GIBBS: Sure.

TAPPER: So...

GIBBS: But I'm not going to get into hypotheticals about how certain cases may or may not play out.

TAPPER: So you're not willing to commit to freeing people if they're found not guilty?

GIBBS: I'm not willing to get into playing hypothetical games.

TAPPER: It's not a game, Robert. It's a question about the credibility of a justice system.

It goes on. Transcript w/video, link @ sig.

We know that Lieberman-Graham is not dead yet and will be attached again but this time to HR1256. Lieberman has reserved at least 10 separate unspecified amendments he plans to attach to this bill. No doubt one or more will be this one.

I'm listening to the Senate debate here http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2_wm.aspx.

They're voting on cloture now. One of Lieberman's amendments was just thrown out as being non-germane. I assume it's the amendment regarding the photos (it was called "SA 1290"). Hopefully, pow wow will be along to clarify.

Cloture was agreed to: 67 - 30. A vote on final passage is expected tomorrow. Lieberman voted YES on cloture; Graham voted NO.

Lieberman and Graham added their amendment — which would bar for three years the disclosure of images of mistreated prisoners taken from Sept. 11, 2001, to Jan. 22, 2009 — to the tobacco regulation bill (HR 1256) now on the Senate floor. Lieberman said he and Graham would vote against cloture on the tobacco measure if it fails and would could continue to “slow up the process” by attaching their amendment to other legislation.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003138363

I believe the amendment failed; if so, why did Lieberman vote YES on cloture and not carry out his threat to filibuster?

Roll Call: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00206

CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE

June 10, 2009 – 1:55 p.m.

Action on a final version of a war spending bill appears imminent, as House Democrats on Wednesday reportedly prevailed in their battle to keep language out of the measure barring public release of prisoner abuse photographs.

House leaders were preparing to appoint conferees on the bill, setting up a joint session with Senate negotiators shortly thereafter, House Democratic Caucus Chairman John B. Larson , D-Conn., said. Floor action is likely Thursday.

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter , R-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, said the conference report will definitely not contain language, found in the Senate’s version, which would bar for three years the disclosure of images of U.S. war on terror prisoners taken from Sept. 11, 2001, to Jan. 22, 2009.

Yes, I know that SA 1274 contains the detainee photo amendment. I'm not sure if it was tossed, though. I know that 1290 was tossed, and for all I know, the photo amendment was contained in it, too. In any case, the Senate voted for cloture today (see my previous message above).

Yes, this reminds me of all the WH/Congressional crap that went on regarding telecom immunity. I'm 99% positive that the Lieberman/Graham detainee photo amendment never made it into the FDA tobacco bill. If that's so, I find it amazing that Lieberman voted YES on cloture after saying he'd vote against it.