Here is a timeline regarding the PAA, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, and statements by the Obama Campaign relating to those matters. Also, some quotes from those comments that might shed some light on the reversal of Obama's position on the need to amend FISA.
On August 5, 2007 the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (aka FISA) was temporarily overridden by the Protect America Act (PAA), which expired on February 7, 2008, restoring FISA as the law of the land. The PAA allowed the Attorney General to give one-year authorizations to certain warrantless surveillance programs that violate both FISA and the Fourth Amendment. Those authorizations begin to expire in August.
Senator Obama voted against the PAA.
