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House Voting On FISA |
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The compromise plan on FISA is coming up for a vote this afternoon. Here’s what the ACLU says about the bill:
We commend the House for refusing to adopt the overreaching FISA Amendments Act, which would have given the executive branch vastly expanded powers to wiretap on US soil and granted retroactive immunity to telecommunication companies that facilitated years of illegal surveillance. In particular, we commend House leadership for its refusal to grant such retroactive immunity and for the inclusion of provisions that would allow courts to hear evidence in the relevant pending cases even in the face of state secrets claims. We also applaud efforts to preserve some judicial oversight over domestic surveillance.
Despite these laudable elements, the ACLU cannot support programs that provide for bulk collection of American communications – and this proposal authorizes just such a program. As the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, wholesale collection of Americans’ information is an ongoing and increasing problem that continues to encroach on our rights. Every time we think we understand the scope of surveillance undertaken by this administration, new facts emerge that show the scope of spying is even broader. We encourage Congress to do extensive oversight to learn how this Administration has violated our rights so we can begin the process of rectifying the many abuses of power that have been committed.
Give your representative a call this afternoon. Congratulate them on standing against the attack ads that I’ve seen running here in DC all week urging Congress to pass the Senate bill with retroactive immunity. Tell them to make sure telecom companies - who started spying on you before 9/11 - are not given retroactive immunity before the public has a chance to find out what Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program authorized.
With retroactive immunity, we’ll never know what happened. And we’ll never be able to hold Bush accountable.
jason..wacth the spineless basturds pass the rotten version of fisa…duh!..i thought i was voteing for free milk for darfore kids..yea and there momma was a d.c. crack hoe.thats called an inbedded reporter.