Bush, GOP lawmakers to try again to revamp intelligence

Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., tells reporters on Capitol Hill, Saturday, that Congress has failed to agree on legislation adopting the Sept. 11 commission’s terror-fighting recommendations, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — President Bush and GOP congressional leaders are preparing another bid in December to overcome conservative Republican opposition and pass an intelligence community overhaul designed as a response to the Sept. 11 attacks.

‘‘When I get home, I look forward to getting it done,’’ Bush told a news conference Sunday after an economic summit in Santiago, Chile. He promised to work with Republican leaders in Congress who are preparing to return Dec. 6 for another try.

Blocked by resistance from two committee chairmen and conservative Republicans in the House, lawmakers turned back a last-minute chance Saturday to pass the stalled legislation to create a new national intelligence director and national counterterrorism center. Based on the Sept. 11 commission recommendations, the overhaul is supposed to help the intelligence community track terrorist threats and was one of the biggest legislative priorities of this year.

Despite Republican control of Congress, Bush hasn’t been able to enlist enough support from House Republicans.

‘‘For us to do the bill in early December, it will take significant involvement by the president and the vice president,’’ Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said on CBS’ ‘‘Face the Nation’’ Sunday. ‘‘It will take real focus on their part.’’

‘‘The president is going to have to stand up to both his own Defense Department and to the hard right,’’ Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said on CNN’s ‘‘Late Edition.’’