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Telecom Companies Get Wiretap Immunity

Congress To Get Free iPhones, Extra Minutes 

Richieville News Service-WASHINGTON, D.C.

In a striking victory for President Bush, the House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill
that would give telecommunications companies immunity for their
participation in the administration's warrentless wiretapping program.
In return, each member of Congress will receive one of the new
generation of Apple iPhones.

Some
Democrats bitterly opposed the measure, saying the companies had broken
the law and violated a fundamental constitutional right to privacy. But
in the end, the promise of the sleek new phone,
which has the ability to take advantage of the latest high speed
wireless technology, proved irresistible to the 105 Democrats who
joined with Republicans to pass the bill.

"This
baby is so cool," said Democratic majority leader Rep. Steny Hoyer of
Maryland as he showed off his shiny, black 8 gigabyte iPhone. "Yes,
AT&T took part in an illegal program to eavesdrop on Americans
without a court order, aiding the Bush administration's assault on our
basic civil liberties, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, but did
you know this has GPS? You want directions to the nearest Starbuck's?"

Rep.
Rahm Emmanuel of Illinois was equally excited about the possibilities.
"It's true that with this bill there will be absolutely no
accountability for six years in which major telecommunications
companies aided in illegal spying on American citizens," said the
congressman, who unlike Mr. Hoyer had chosen a white case for his
 phone. "But with this new 3G technology, I can use my iPhone  in
Europe or Asia. Look how fast it downloads my Facebook page." 

The
bill, which expands the government's ability to listen to domestic
conversations without a court order, now moves to the Senate.  Some
senators expressed disappointment with the House version and appeared
to be holding out for new Blackberrys. But leaders of both parties
expressed confidence that the holdouts would come around, thanks to the
iPhone's remarkably easy-to-use touch screen.

Members
of both houses of Congress were given 500 extra "anytime" minutes and
two-year contracts at $40 a month for basic voice services plus an
additional $20 to $30 a month depending on the data features selected.
The contracts include a $200 penalty for early termination, but
AT&T said the company would waive that fee if a member had to
resign due to scandal, indictment or to spend more time with his family.