GOP senator threatens to hold up intelligence overhaul bill

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, on Monday angrily threatened to delay a cloture motion on legislation that proposes sweeping changes in the nation's intelligence system, saying the Senate was rushing to complete work on the bill without allowing adequate time for debate.

The threat, which could derail attempts to get a bill to President Bush before the Nov. 2 elections, was issued following the blocking of an amendment offered by the senator to keep the national intelligence budget classified. As drafted, the bill calls for public disclosure of the top-line figure, as recommended by the 9/11 Commission's report.

Stevens' amendment was tabled on a 55-37 vote, after which he said he had not been consulted on the time limits imposed on debate before the vote. He added that the time limit prevented him from referencing a White House statement of administration policy that he said supported his amendment.

Stevens said he was disturbed by the process, describing it as "very sad" and saying it would "change this senator's vote on cloture."

It was not clear whether Stevens would be able to stop today's cloture vote, which Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., proposed last week to ensure a vote on the measure. But Stevens made it clear he was serious about carrying out his threat.

"I'm up to it, I'll tell you right now, and people better understand that," he said.

Stevens also accused 9/11 Commission members of pushing the Senate for rapid passage of sweeping legislation that would dramatically overhaul the nation's intelligence apparatus.

"What right have they to push the Senate so hard?" he asked. "If we're not careful, we'll destroy the intelligence system we're trying to reorganize."

During a series of stacked votes Monday, the bill's co-sponsors, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, and ranking member Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., beat back Stevens' amendment and one by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., to limit the intelligence director's ability to transfer money and personnel from three defense intelligence agencies. That amendment, tabled on a 62-29 vote, also would have prohibited the Treasury secretary from establishing new accounts for appropriations under the control of the national intelligence director.

The bill still faces more than 200 amendments, so if the cloture vote fails efforts to have the changes in place before Election Day might fall apart. Even if cloture is invoked, the legislation faces a contentious conference, with House GOP leaders insisting that restrictions on immigration and other extensions of the USA PATRIOT Act be included.

During a news conference Monday, Collins said this is a "pivotal time" for intelligence reform. She predicted that if legislation is not passed this year, it might not happen at all.

Collins and Lieberman said they were prepared for a series of amendments this week that could undermine some authority their bill would give to the new national intelligence director in an effort to preserve the Defense Department's existing authority over intelligence funding and personnel.

On Monday, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, R-Va., offered two amendments, one of which was aimed at leaving budget authority for some national intelligence assets under the Pentagon's purview. Collins and Lieberman opposed the amendment because it would reduce the power -- supported by the 9/11 Commission -- the bill would vest in the national intelligence director.