WASHINGTON -- Former members of the Sept. 11 commission metTuesday with Vice President Dick Cheney, and President Bush plannedtalks with leaders of Congress in an attempt to gain passage for anintelligence reorganization bill this year.
Tom Kean, the former New Jersey governor who chaired thecommission, said panel members are offering Cheney whatever help theycan to break an impasse over military intelligence and immigrationissues.
Kean said he left the half-hour meeting with Cheney optimisticthat the bill would pass, but declined to say what specific strategythe White House would pursue to resolve the impasse.
"He reiterated the full support of the administration," said Kean."What I asked them to do is, as they worked on the bill, if there wasany congressman from either party that I or any member of thecommission could help by talking to, let us know."
Speaking in Ottawa, Bush said he plans to discuss the bill laterthis week with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House SpeakerDennis Hastert.
"I want a bill," Bush said. "Let's see if I can say it as plainlyas I can: I am for the intelligence bill."
The House reconvenes next Monday to fix an appropriations bill ina session expected to take a few hours at most. The Senate wouldreturn the next day only if a deal is reached on the intelligencebill.
The bill to reshape the nation's intelligence community and createa national intelligence director has stalled amid opposition from twokey House Republicans who charge it doesn't do enough to toughenimmigration requirements and may weaken military intelligence. AP
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