Warner airs doubts on intelligence overhaul bill
Aide: Senator joining forces against legislation
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 CNN's Ed Henry reports on the pressure to pass intelligence reform.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In what could be a significant blow against an intelligence overhaul bill stalled in Congress, the powerful Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee expressed new doubts Friday about the legislation.
In a written statement, Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia said he "is concerned about those issues that may impact the time-tested chain-of-command."
The bill, meant to follow recommendations of the bipartisan commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, stalled November 20 after two Republican House committee chairmen refused to support it.
One of the chairman, Armed Services Committee chief Duncan Hunter of California, said the bill's provision setting up a national director to oversee all U.S. intelligence might hinder the U.S. military.
An aide to Warner, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Warner wants concrete assurances before he accepts the bill.
Asked if Warner was joining forces with Hunter, the aide answered, "big time."
It was not immediately clear what impact Warner's opposition would have because the bill has passed the Senate and he cannot hold up the legislation, as Hunter can.
In October, after the Senate and House came up with different versions of the measure, a conference committee hammered out a compromise that sailed through the Senate on a 96-2 vote. But November 20, as Congress headed toward adjournment for the year, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, pulled the bill from the floor after opposition appeared within his own ranks.
President Bush has said many times that he supports the legislation and has been trying to persuade the bill's opponents to change their minds. The White House said the president will soon send a letter to congressional leaders outlining his concerns that the Pentagon chain of command be "preserved" and pressing Congress to pass the bill when it returns for a short lame-duck session next week.
A source who supports the bill said talks have centered on "finding acceptable clarifying language" to satisfy Hunter.
Bush's frustration was apparent Friday morning at a bill-signing ceremony, according to an account by one participant. The source, who was there but asked not to be named, told CNN that away from the cameras, Bush said, "I can't believe one person is holding up the bill," an apparent reference to Hunter.
The other House Republican who would not support the bill November 20 was Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin. Sensenbrenner has said he wants the bill changed to prevent states from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
CNN's Joe Johns and Steve Turnham contributed to this report.
