The Senate has approved a measure rewriting the nation’s surveillance laws and granting immunity to phone companies involved in President Bush’s secret domestic spy program. The legislation gives the government new powers to eavesdrop on both domestic and international communications. The final vote was 69-to-28. As expected, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama voted in favor of the measure. The Democratic-controlled House approved its version of the bill last month. The measure has been widely criticized. ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero said, “With today’s vote, the government has been given a green light to expand its power to spy on Americans and run roughshod over the Constitution.” The ACLU says it plans a court challenge.