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Washington: The House of Representatives has approved a Democratic Bill that would set rules for the government's eavesdropping on phone calls and e-mails inside the United States.
The Bill, approved as lawmakers departed for a two-week break, faces a veto threat from President George W. Bush.
The margin of House approval was 213-197, largely along party lines.
Because of the promised veto, "this vote has no impact at all", said Republican leader Representative Roy Blunt.
The president's main objection is that the Bill does not protect from lawsuits the telecommunications companies that allowed the government to eavesdrop on their customers without a court's permission after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto called the measure a "political ploy".
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