House Passes Controversial Cybersecurity Bill…Even With Looming White House Veto Threat
- Posted on April 27, 2012 at 8:50am by
Liz Klimas
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With its passage in the House, CISPA will now head to the Senate where several advocacy groups will seek reform. (Photo: Andy Withers/Flickr)
WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The House’s solid bipartisan vote for a cybersecurity bill sends a message to the Senate: Now it’s your turn to act. Internet privacy and civil liberties advocacy groups have a message for the Senate too: watch out.
Ignoring a White House veto threat, the House approved the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, which would encourage companies and the federal government to share information collected on the Internet to help prevent electronic attacks from cybercriminals, foreign governments and terrorists.
The vote Thursday was 248-168, with 42 Democrats joining 206 Republicans in backing the measure.
Congressional leaders are determined to get a cybersecurity bill completed this election year but that may be difficult. The Obama administration and several leading Senate Democrats and Republicans want a bill that would give the Homeland Security Department the primary role in overseeing domestic cybersecurity and the authority to set security standards. The House bill would impose no new regulations on businesses, an imperative for Republicans.
In the coming weeks, the Senate will try to proceed on its bill by Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, who have said the House bill is inadequate in protecting against cyberattacks. Senior Senate Republicans, such as Sen. John McCain of Arizona, argue that Homeland Security is ill-equipped to determine how best to secure the nation’s essential infrastructure and has introduced his own bill.
Criticism was echoed by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
“The White House believes the government ought to control the Internet, government ought to set standards and government ought to take care of everything that’s needed for cybersecurity,” Boehner told reporters Thursday. “They’re in a camp all by themselves.”
Watch Boehner share his thoughts on the bill:
The Center for Democracy and Technology “expressed disappointment” at the House passage of the bill and stated it would press the Senate on two core issues it has with the proposed legislation: “the flow of information from the private sector directly to NSA and the use of that information for national security purposes unrelated to cybersecurity.”
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which has also been advocating reform of the bill, intends to “fight” for civil liberties as it heads to the Senate.
“As the Senate takes up the issue of cybersecurity in the coming weeks, civil liberties will be a central issue. We must do everything within our power to safeguard the privacy rights of individual Internet users and ensure that Congress does not sacrifice those rights in a rush to pass vaguely-worded cybersecurity bills,” said Lee Tien, EFF Senior Staff Attorney.
More than 10 years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, proponents of the House bill cast it as an initial step to deal with an evolving threat of the Internet age.
The legislation would allow the government to relay cyber threat information to a company to prevent attacks from Russia or China. In the private sector, corporations could alert the government and provide data that could stop an attack intended to disrupt the country’s water supply or take down the banking system.
Faced with widespread privacy concerns, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger of Maryland, the Intelligence panel’s top Democrat, pulled together an amendment that limits the government’s use of threat information to five specific purposes: cybersecurity; investigation and prosecution of cybersecurity crimes; protection of individuals from death or serious bodily harm; protection of minors from child pornography; and the protection of national security.
The House passed the amendment, 410-3.
The White House, along with a coalition of liberal and conservative groups and some lawmakers, strongly opposed the measure, complaining that Americans’ privacy could be violated. They argued that companies could share an employee’s personal information with the government, data that could end up in the hands of officials from the National Security Agency or the Defense Department. They also challenged the bill’s liability waiver for private companies that disclose information, complaining that it was too broad.
Echoing those concerns were several Republicans and Democrats who warned of potential government spying on its citizens with the help of employers.
“In an effort to foster information sharing, this bill would erode the privacy protections of every single American using the Internet. It would create a `Wild West’ of information sharing,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee.
Said Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas: “Until we protect the privacy rights of our citizens, the solution is worse than the problem.”
Countering criticism of Big Brother run amok, proponents argued that the bill does not allow the government to monitor private networks, read private emails or close a website. It urges companies that share data to remove personal information.
“There is no government surveillance, none, not any in this bill,” Rogers said.
Among the amendments the House approved was one by Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., that put certain personal information off-limits: library, medical and gun sale records, tax returns and education documents.





















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Comments (66)
recoveringneocon
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:58pmWonder if “Our Savor Romney” would veto this bill? And by the way this is a Republican Bill. Here are a few of “The Great Patriots” That supported and voted against Liberty.
Allen West
Michele Bachmann
Mike Rogers
Eric Cantor
Paul Ryan
Find out if your Rep. is a Enemy of The People, The Constitution, and The Republic @
Report Post »http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h192
Julz
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 6:22pmLeft and Right….it’s all the same…..
Report Post »Julz
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 6:26pm@Giver….I strongly agree….
Report Post »Julz
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:06pmI really, really want someone to tell me why Glenn Beck supports Michele Bachmann when she has voted FOR The Patriot Act, NDAA and CISPA. Really Glenn? I’m beginning to wonder here….
Report Post »justangry
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:42pmHe wants to go play end of the world in the middle east. Well, he wants others to do it. He’ll be in a bunker somewhere counting his Goldline coins.
Report Post »recoveringneocon
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:57pm@julz
Report Post »“Israel “
The Giver
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 6:03pmThis is it. I will not send her a single penny for her campaign or West. I am so disgusted at all these power hungry politicians. They’re all on power trips. They can’t be politicians forever. At some point they too will have to live under the laws they inflict on us. This is becoming 1984 on steroids. Vote them ALL out 2012! God help us.
Report Post »Julz
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 6:28pm@ Giver….I agree with you there…
Report Post »contkmi
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:58pmThank goodness for my rep, Mr. Justin Amash!
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 3:05pmJustin Amash is a True Conservative, Patriot, and Defender of the Constitution.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 3:44pmI second and third that. One of the only patriots in the house.
Report Post »Paul
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:41pmBoehner
You’re Worthless…
Report Post »chips1
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:27pmCyberspace—- The area between Obama’s ears.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:59pmThis is becoming monotonously disgusting that the US government bureaucrats are VIOLATING the peoples civil rights EVERYDAY of the week. WE DID NOT PUT THEM IN OFFICE FOR THIS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8no3E0Hx7k&feature=youtube_gdata
Report Post »chips1
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:32pmWe did not put them in office at all. They picked the people and said here are your choices. Then Obama sent his goons to threaten the voters at the polling places. Then had Holder protect them from prosecution. And that be the way it is.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:49pmCan’t pass a budget as required by the Constitution – but can pass stupid extraneous bills that will be vetoed on sight. That’s our congress – they all need to be replaced from top to bottom. If there is a republican in that seat – either a new/different Republican or a Democrat, if a Democrat, a new/different Democrat or a Republican. This congress needs to go – ALL of them.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:06pmWho spoke against this vehemently? Paul. He does not believe in criminalizing or treating humans as though they were potential criminals to be corraled and cutrailed BEFORE the act. Now you see why young people are neither Dems/Reps. Majority are Libertarians. Those who understand politics of the day that is. Remember StealthSurfer??? NOW OFF THE MARKET. Cannot be found. If you traveled you could use this to safely access your info from any computer. Now you can’t get it because the gov., cannot spy on you, if you use that usb. They monitor you because they want free reign to commit criminal immmoral acts WITHOUT YOUR DISSENTION. They want toknow who is aware, so they can quitely eliminate you before you publicly point the finger.
Report Post »Wikileaks exposed the ridiculous cloak and dagger games these ghouls engage in to stay in power. MURDER and MAYHEM all over the world at YOUR expense.
They live lavish, smile in each others face while holding a dagger ready to stab each other USING ordinary people(soldiers) to carry out their sick psychotic power grabs. (They destroy your wealth by raping your pension plans via corporations(bankers/wallSt). Bushes raped many peoples pension via Enron.)
Write in Paul. This may be our last chance to get rid of these psychos.
CulperGang
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:23pmand furthermore, hillary a tool of the nwbankers is going around europe destablizing. paul is right, the iranian people do not want ahmdJ they want a free nation. they can be talked to. hillary can’t have that!!! she needs the iranians to wipe out israel. israelis can and do live well with muslims contrarty to the lie the state dept is putting out. it is muslim nations that are keeping palis in camps not the israelis.
Report Post »this is what they don’t want you to know. they are creating murder and mayhem…not ordinary people. for their ultimate plan. depopulate for a master race they are engineering. the 100 year of these ghouls is alive and well. this info is why they want to shut this venue down. they want you back in the info dark ages.
HarmonyCorruption
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:57pmLOL @ the “Tea Party” phonies like West and Bachmann voting yes for this. GOP=big gov’t just in another name.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:07pmtrue. now paul takes on a new meaning right?
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:48pmRep. Justin Amash, R-Mich is a Defender of The Constitution, Freedom and Liberty. God Bless you Justin.
Report Post »Mr.Mopar
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:37pmThat’s just great, what next? What Happened to the so called Tea Party republicans? Looks like they are just falling right in line with the rest of the bunch………
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h192
Report Post »justangry
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:05pmWe knew they betrayed what they were sent there for when they all fell inline with the Patriot Act extension, and the NDAA.
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:35pmWait, so after all the comments I’ve read about big bad evil Obama trying to spy on you red-white-and-blue-blooded patriots, it turns out that the Repubs are the onee pushing this crap, and that Obama has actually threatened to veto it?
Report Post »slr4528
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:47pmObama is only vetoing it because he wants another bill that has the government,DHS controlling the program which is a million times worse.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:27pmobviously you don’t follow libertarians. to them both have been the same since the “80s which is why they have supported paul for the last 20 years. hope you all get it now before it is too late and you are fodder.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:30pmObama will pass this bill. Just like with the NDAA that he didnt want to sign and signed it. When are we going to wake up and see that people like Allen West is a fake. He has supported this bill and the NDAA. The GOP is trying to put Romney who is pro NDAA in as president.
I believe this country is already gone. Obama will crush Romney in the fall. We will invade Iran sending us into complete bankruptcy. Riots, murder, rape, theft, and the lack of basic supplies will be so bad we will be desperate for the government to step in. Martial law will be enforced and the few freedoms we had left will be crushed. The United States will be destroyed not because the left and the globalists made it happen. It will destroyed because the right, conservatives, tea party members failed to stop it.
A lot of you have made fun of Ron Paul. You have called him crazy, a loon, dangerous, and kooky. One thing is for sure under a Ron Paul as president our freedoms would stop being under assault. We would have fiscal sanity again. Finally our troops could come home from fighting in countries that hate us and will never change.
My family and I dont deserve another four years with Obama, but a lot of you do.
Report Post »WashingtonIsMyHero
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 3:59pmRP is not crazy or any of that crap. He is good as gold until he lays out his foreign policy. Many voters don’t agree with it.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:09pm@Washington, I think you’ve been deceived. http://www.lewrockwell.com/lewrockwell-show/2011/01/11/182-the-menace-of-neoconservatism/
Report Post »DerbeCU
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:09pmIt seems that every time a law is passed some special group is making money. Who is making the money on this one?
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:20pmThere’s no such thing as a “cyber threat” because “intellectual property” isn’t property at all – you can’t own an idea.
Concerned about utilities being affected by crafty hackers? Privatize the utilities; This way, if one goes down, there are competitors who have better security.
Problem solved.
These representatives need to be killed for such a blatant disregard for our Constitution.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:33pm@ a doctor
I agree. Its treason what they are doing. Of course the GOP are falling right in line. Basically anything John McCain is for, we should be against.
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:51pm@A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
And threatening the lives of elected officials who vote for a bill you don’t like is “constitutional”? Oh, by the way, I hope you end up like that anti-Michael Moore d-bag whose wife got sick and they couldn’t afford treatment, and Michael Moore had to save the day and send the guy money. Only in your case, I hope he DOESN’T send you any money.
Report Post »Nuncle
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:06pmArrrrgh, I find my myself depending on Obama do the right thing to kill this bill. So much hoping the congress or senate do the right thing.
Report Post »slr4528
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:14pmObama only wants to kill the bill in order to over ride the bill with one that has the government overseeing the internet. So Obama is no hero here, and people had better keep their eyes wide open as to the deals that the Senate and Obama will cut with the House Republicans.
I want to know which Republican Senators are supporting Obama on government oversight and control of the internet. Collins, the fake republican, is one of them.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 11:59amSome of you may recognize my avatar. It is the branch insignia of US Army Intelligence. I can say with certainty, that if the government gets access the temptation to conduct surveillance will win over a law. The intelligence community is driven by gaining knowledge. Knowledge is power. It is the nature of the beast.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:34pmYou are 100% correct. People like Col. West have caused this. I would love to hear what Romney’s opinion on this one is.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:36pmJust picking another piece of fruit off the forbidden tree. Are you ready to be thrown out of Eden, again?
Report Post »Dabldo
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 11:18pmAnd the ability to automatically record and organize incredible amounts of information is here in cheap storage (how much is a terabyte for consumers?),voice recognition (consumer version dragon speak and Siri), facial recognition, cheap pervasive cameras, Social media, programs that data mine and visually organise incredible amounts of information on large corporations (gov got better) and Computers that make a Cray look backward and are well beyond the Petaflop range.
Report Post »It has been said with this information age “we are a hairs breath away from a turn key totalitarian state”. Hitlers wet dream.
In all honesty, could you say “No” to using that kind of power over anyone you see as an “enemy” or a “threat” to your power???
hauschild
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 11:39amMan, that’s all Cry Baby can muster? Another Washington power-grab bill? Dude’s pathetic.
Who needs the opposition party when you’ve got leaders on our side like Cry Baby???
I again find myself wondering how it all went so horribly wrong, so relatively quickly. Seems like just yesterday – the mid 1980‘s when Americans finally stopped whining and began to buckle down and git ’r done. Always thought history repeated itself more like hundreds of years, but this 30-40 year nonsense is really mind-boggling.
Report Post »slr4528
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:29pmThe reason why things are going so wrong is because we elect career politicians whose only concern is to make as much money as possible for themselves! The majority of politicians could care less about this country…they are just selling us out to feather their nests.
If you have money you can gain influence and buy government. Just check out the latest deal Obama made with his Hollywood pals. Reuters reported yesterday that the SEC is investigating this but I do not see this story being reported any where.
http://freebeacon.com/dreamworks-nightmare/
Report Post »tharpdevenport
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 11:28amJohn “How do you want your coffe, Mr. President” Bonehead should try looking over his shoulder at his fellow Republicans. Co-sonpsors on the Bill:
72 Republicans
16 Democrats.
The President lies. Constantly (not teleprompter needed). Anybody think he‘ll veto a chance to grab more power while dimishing the people’s? This is the best thing since playing with a marshmallow gun for him.
Report Post »Calm Voice of Reason
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 11:02amRepublican
206 Yes
28 No
Democratic
42 Yes
140 No
Looks like this time it was Democrats on the side of liberty.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 11:28amIsn’t tyranny great?
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:45pm@Calm Voice of Reason
Don‘t you know that facts aren’t allowed on this site. Watch yourself, buddy, three strikes and you’re out. :)
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 3:48pmPretty sad state of affairs. Those same dems voted for NDAA for they are still commie bastards.
Report Post »13th Generation American
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 6:21pmI’m actually proud of every comment in this little thread. To see the truth on this website is extremely rare. Thanks,
S.A.R.
Report Post »Tampa Ken
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:53amWe have enough laws on the books right now..
Report Post »and there just trying to pass laws that allow what There Already Doing to be legal.. instead of illegal like it should be.. End the NSA, ATF and all the other alphabet agency’s… FBI for internal maters, CIA for External maters.. THATS IT Nothing Else and get rid of the Fatherland Security as well..
NutterButter79
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:34amThe bill is sponsored by many big corporations, these RINOS in the house bow down to them. They are nothing more than puppets on a string. Citizens have been speaking out against CISPA and the fact that the government could collect info on users from any site. Once they have your IP address, they have you.
Report Post »Hopefully Obama actually keeps his word and vetoes this thing. I’m not a fan of his, but if he vetoes this, it would show me he is at least a somewhat decent human being.
The GOP needs to wake up! Doing what these big corporations want them to do isn’t going to help them win in November, especially when it goes against WE THE PEOPLE!
Firesaber
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:57amYou‘re wrong insofar as the reason Obama would veto it is because it doesn’t give him enough power. Remember that his version was 10x worse. I do think something will need to be done about cybersecurity. I think the legislative process could turn this bill into something worthwhile. That is to say, the Senate should review it, amended it, send it back, etc etc. The big government people want to control communications as in 2084.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:28amI heard Joe Barton speaking on the details of the legislation. Obama doesn’t WANT it they way it is worded now. He does NOT want to share the Chinese and other cyber ATTACK information with businesses and it does NOT give him the authority to spy on citizens! As long as the wording and definitions are explicit, this could be a good thing to help our economy and our security.
Report Post »“Cyber espionage has cost U.S.-owned businesses about $14 billion in reported economic losses since last October, according to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). But private security experts said this is a fraction of a huge problem that will take a cultural shift to put corporate America ahead of today’s high-tech spies.” This is the intention of the bill. That’s ALL that is involved here. Nothing more and nothing less. SINCE when does OBAMA care about you OR your personal information getting out there, unless HE can get it? Why would he OPPOSE this? Think about it….
NutterButter79
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:41amBetter re-read that bill, friend. It also gives the government the ability to black out websites that it deems to violate piracy laws. Even a website that unknowingly links to a site with pirated material will be subject to being shut down. The bill is supported by the RIAA and the MPAA. If it was JUST about security, do you think they would be supporting it?
Report Post »This isn’t about security, it’s about censorship and stopping the public from accessing alternative news sources. The corporate media knows that it‘s losing it’s grip over people, they want to kill any other competition.
slr4528
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:24pmWhy not have private corporations opt in if they feel they have a cyber threat? Why force all private companies to participate?
Report Post »whatever1858
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:20amOf course Obama wants the government to control everything. He has Muslim Brotherhood planted in the White House and he wants to control all aspects of the country so that he can become a dictator. His administration has been blocking Sean Hannity from showing this video where he himself says he’s a Muslim and much more. This video needs to be see by all before they get it off the web. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:43pm@whatever1858
Damn, you people are too stupid to even read a story before you comment. The REPUBLICANS are the ones pushing this bill, along with a smaller number of Dems. Obama has threatened to VETO the bill.
Report Post »Joisey
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:04amThose numbskulls in the House are just giving an Evil Regime another tool to oppress the citizenry here at home. This will be used against domestic political enemies, not foreign terrorists. Just like the TSA.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:22amThey are also helping Obama look good if he vetos it. Why don‘t the Republicans in the house understand that the people don’t want more government intrusion and invasion into our lives. They are all a bunch of traitors. This bill is just a repackaged version of the last one.
Report Post »Liberty or death. Fire them all.
VanceUppercut
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:36pm@Joisey
Yes the same “Evil Regime” that has threatened to veto the bill. Didn‘t get much schoolin’, didja?
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 9:50amWith the current administration in power, I do not favor giving the federal government anymore power than they have already over-reached to gain ! Between the Friday executive orders, the czars, and the threats to the SCOTUS, this Big Brother so-called Democrat administration needs to have his hands on power watched at ALL times ! ( love the fact that Big Brother doesn’t think think this bill goes far enough ! Of course He doesn’t. Big Brother wants to control EVERYONE and EVERYTHING…for their own good, of course ! )
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:42pm@barber2
“With the current administration in power, I do not favor giving the federal government anymore power than they have already”
See that’s the problem with people. When their side is in power they’re all in favor of expanded executive powers, but then when someone from the other team is in power they suddenly become averse to it. Where were all the Cons when Dubya signed the (un)PATRIOT Act into law, authorized warrantless wiretaps, etc.?
“threats to the SCOTUS”
What threats? How do you threaten someone who is elected for life?
“this Big Brother so-called Democrat administration needs to have his hands on power watched at ALL times”
The Obama admin doesn‘t like this bill and they’ve threatened to veto it, Republicans are the ones pushing it, and yet somehow it’s still an Obama plot.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 9:19amWhen you trade a greater evil for a lesser evil; the end game is still evil.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 6:54pmI agree with you here, but do you really mean it?
Report Post »