Yesterday Jane Hamsher broke the news that Hillary Clinton would return to Washington, DC today to vote NO on cloture on the Intelligence Committee version of FISA. The vote is scheduled for today at 4:30pm EST. Barack Obama's announcement that he would leave the campaign trail and vote NO as well soon followed.

Jane has Clinton's full statement on FISA.

Today, I will vote against Republican efforts to shortchange the debate on the FISA Amendments Act, important legislation that would modernize our surveillance laws and give our nation's intelligence professionals the tools they need to fight terrorism and make our country more secure. Rather than allow the Senate the opportunity to consider important amendments to this vital legislation, Republicans are instead blocking meaningful debate on this bill by playing procedural games, choosing instead to score cheap political points at the expense of our Homeland Security.

This legislation deserves a thorough debate. Several provisions - including those which would have a profound impact on the civil liberties of Americans - need to be the subject of careful deliberation. For example, the bill under consideration gives telecommunication companies blanket retroactive immunity for their alleged cooperation in the administration's warrantless wiretapping program. I continue to believe that a grant of retroactive immunity is wrong, and I have cosponsored Senator Dodd's amendment to remove that provision from the bill. The Bush Administration has blatantly disregarded Americans' civil liberties over the past seven years, and I simply will not trust them to protect Americans' privacy rights. With the temporary Protect America Act set to expire on February 1st, I strongly believe that we need to pass balanced legislation that protects our civil liberties and the rule of law while giving our law enforcement and intelligence agencies the tools they need to protect our country.

Good to see her unambiguous language on retroactive immunity.

This could get dicey for Clinton and Obama this week, as today's cloture votes (there will be two today) are likely not be the final FISA votes this week. Tim Tagaris, formerly of Chris Dodd's campaign, elaborates over at Open Left:

Christy at Firedoglake has the digits for calls and faxes to your Senators in advance to today's pair of cloture votes.

No on McConnell's, yes on Reid's.

Word I am getting is that we will win on McConnell's and lose on Reid's.  That means no extension, and puts us right back at square one with no agreement on whether or not 50 or 60 votes is needed to pass amendments.

That also means there is a pretty damn good chance the Protect America Act portion of FISA will expire on February 1st.

Glenn has the one key talking point that EVERYONE needs to remember as this battle plays out in the press.

FISA does not expire on Friday. Only the Protect America Act, which amended FISA by increasing the President's powers, expires.

FISA -- which was passed in 1977 and amended multiple times since, including after 9/11 -- continues in full force and effect even if the PAA expires.

Unfortunately for the presidentials, this means we'll need all hands on deck Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday -- both for close votes that would force the President's hand, and a potential filibuster.

Senator Obama has confirmed he will vote YES on cloture on Reid's 30-day extension amendment. Still waiting to hear from Clinton.

The candidates were already juggling how to be in all February 5th states at once in advance of next Tuesday's national primary, now they have to make some time to be in DC to do, you know, their actual job.

So let them know you appreciate their doing the right thing diverting themselves from the campaign trail for these important votes, and get in contact with your own senators as well to make sure they intend to vote NO on cloture on McConnnell's amendment today -- Christy has contact info at FDL.

Update [2008-1-28 13:37:2 by Todd Beeton]:Glenn Greenwald elaborates on the importance on the NO cloture votes today, via DFA e-mail:

Last week, it looked as though enough Senate Democrats were going to vote in favor of the Bush plan in order to pass this radical bill. But a funny thing happened on the way to the latest Democratic capitulation: Republicans tried to block the Senate from voting on ANY of the Democrats' proposed amendments and are trying to force a quick vote on the bill.

Now, led by Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democrats are vowing to filibuster and block the Senate from voting on Monday. If the Democrats can sustain a filibuster and prevent passage of this bill, this would be a major defeat for Bush and the Senate Republicans.

Glenn has more at his blog at salon and will be liveblogging the votes. Also, whatever happens today, watch Bush use tonight's State of the Union to pillory Democrats as not wanting to keep us safe. Our senators, especially Clinton and Obama, are going to need us to have their backs.