This blog was originally posted on Down with Tyranny.
When my father was just a boy, his parents fled Nazi Germany and immigrated to the United States. The older I get the more I realize how much that history shaped my dad's world view and informed the values he and my mother taught me.
At an early age, I gained a real appreciation for our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and our civil liberties. In my family, patriotism wasn't just about how high you could fly the flag, but rather how effectively you could live up to the democratic ideals that our flag and our country represent.
The Telecom Amnesty provision in the FISA legislation currently before Congress threatens those liberties we all hold so dear. If the Senate FISA bill passes, illegal spying programs will never be investigated and lawbreakers will never be prosecuted.
We all know too well what this means. It means that a company that broke the law and listened in on the phone conversations of millions of innocent Americans can not be prosecuted. It means that a company that illegally intercepted millions of faxes and emails sent by innocent Americans can not be prosecuted. And, it means that a company that illegally stored those faxes, emails and phone calls in a massive database is also immune from prosecution.
I believe that the House's RESTORE Act must be passed. The House bill provides the government with the resources it needs to keep our country safe and ensures that those who violate our civil liberties can be prosecuted. The Senate bill grants amnesty to lawbreakers and ensures that the Bush administration's illegal spying programs will never be investigated and the guilty parties will never be brought to justice.
Unfortunately, some House Democrats are thinking about siding with the Republicans on this critical piece of legislation. This is exactly why America needs more and better Democrats in Congress who will stand up for our values and vote to preserve the Constitution and the rule of law.
I have another engagement, so, I am unable to answer your questions in the comments.