If House Republicans were hoping to sway enough Democrats to their side on the surveillance bill with their super seeeecret session yesterday, looks like it didn't work.

Paul Kiel has the good news:

The House Dem leadership's surveillance bill just cleared the House by a vote of 213-197 with 1 vote of present. 12 Dems crossed the aisle to vote against it.

The bill has stricter privacy safeguards than the Senate's version -- and of course does not contain a provision granting retroactive immunity for the telecoms' participation in the administration's warrantless wiretapping program.

Roll call is HERE.

Could it be that House Democrats are learning that, as dday puts it, "there remains no downside to opposing Bush?" Now if only the senate would learn the same lesson.

Next up is reconciliation with the senate bill. Sen. Harry Reid is optimistic but Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Jay Rockefeller is being somewhat coy on telecom immunity.

"I continue to believe that the Senate FISA bill can be made even better through a limited number of changes, such as a shorter sunset, strengthened exclusivity, and improved accountability - modifications that in no way inhibit the collection authorities needed by the Intelligence Community.

"As soon as the House sends us this new bill, we will once again roll up our sleeves and get back to work on a final compromise that the House, Senate and White House can support."

Yes, Senator, we know Bush won't sign a bill without immunity but it doesn't mean you send one to him.

Update [2008-3-14 15:29:32 by Todd Beeton]:What Glenn said:

"It's hard not to believe that there's not at least some significant sea change reflected by this. They have seen that they can defy the President even on matters of Terrorism, and the sky doesn't fall in on them. Quite the opposite: an outspoken opponent of telecom amnesty, warrantless eavesdropping and the Iraq War was just elected to the House from Denny Hastert's bright red district, and before that, Donna Edwards ousted long-time incumbent Al Wynn by accusing him of being excessively complicit with the Bush agenda.