House OKs stronger surveillance oversight

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Thursday night to strengthen court oversight of the government’s surveillance of terrorist suspects but stopped short of providing legal immunity to telecommunication companies that helped eavesdrop on Americans.

The Democratic bill, approved 227-189, was a rebuke to President Bush, who has promised to veto any legislation that does not shield telecom companies from lawsuits. About 40 civil suits have been filed alleging the companies broke wiretapping and privacy laws for monitoring phone calls and e-mails without permission of a secret court.