Yesterday's Republican shenanigans, that are continuing today as they filibuster that economic stimulus package that was such a high priority, highlight the importance of keeping the House strong on holding the line to keep their FISA legislation, the RESTORE Act, the base bill as they go to conference.
Here's a brief recap of yesterday's floor action from National Journal (no link available)
Senators introduced and began debating four amendments to change a White House-backed FISA reform bill, but Majority Leader Reid charged that Republicans were using stalling tactics that would prevent debate and votes on those amendments today.
Reid said Republicans were holding up floor action on FISA by demanding that the Senate use up the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time after it voted to limit debate on an economic stimulus package....
In a bitter exchange on the Senate floor, Reid accused Republicans of being afraid to have votes on contentious FISA amendments because they might lose.
Reid added that they were using delaying tactics in an effort to put the Senate up against a deadline in hopes that Democrats would eventually have no choice but to support the White House-backed bill.... Reid likened the tactic to a situation in early August when Republicans demanded Democrats pass the temporary law.
"Shouldn't we be legislating here instead of stalling for time for fear that somebody has to take a tough vote?" Reid asked. "They want, even though the president has been forced to extend this for 15 days, they now want to do what they did in August. Stall it until the last day."
"They want to wait until the last minute so that whatever we do here the House would have to accept," he added.
That's probably a pretty fair assessment of what the Republicans are trying to do. Even though they argued that their big problem was that those pesky Democrats tried to sneak in funding for low income energy assistance and they didn't have time to read the provision, it was about doing whatever they could to derail FISA for the day. We can use that against them, though. It gives us more time to contact Senators and keep sustained pressure on them. That includes Clinton and Obama, who will have dispensed with Super Tuesday when debate resumes, and will have some breathing space.
In addition, there are some key House members to contact to make sure they hold tough on the already passed RESTORE Act. It's critical that they don't fold under pressure from the Senate to weaken their bill. Here's the list of targets, either because of their committee assignments or their previous votes, in the House to call and to tell to fight for the RESTORE Act.
Jason Altmire (PA-4), Phone: (202) 225-2565 Fax: (202) 226-2274
Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6), Phone: (202) 225-2721 Fax: (202) 225-2193
Leonard Boswell (IA-3), Phone: (202) 225-3806 Fax: (202) 225-5608
Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5), Phone: (202) 225-4535 Fax: (202) 225-4403
John Dingell (MI-15), Phone: (202) 225-4071 Fax: (202) 226-0371
Keith Ellison (MN-5), Phone: (202) 225-4755 Fax: (202) 225-4886
Wayne Gilchrest (MD-1), Phone: (202) 225-5311 Fax: (202) 225-0254
Jane Harman (CA-36), Phone: (202) 225 8220 Fax: (202) 226 7290
Baron Hill (IN-9), Phone: (202) 225-5315 Fax: (202) 226-6866
Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Phone: (202) 225-4131 Fax: (202) 225-4300
Paul Hodes (NH-2), Phone: (202) 225-5206 Fax: (202) 225-2946
Bob Inglis (SC-4), Phone: (202) 225-6030 Fax: (202) 226-1177
Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Phone: (202) 225-3816 Fax: (202) 225-3317
Walter Jones (NC-3), Phone: (202) 225-3415 Fax: (202) 225-3286
Barbara Lee (CA-9), Phone: (202) 225-2661 Fax: (202) 225-9817
Dave Loebsack (IA-2), Phone: (202) 225-6576 Fax: (202) 226-0757
Ed Markey (MA-7), Phone: 202-225-2836 Fax: (202) 226-0092
Dennis Moore (KS-3), Phone: (202) 225-2865 Fax: (202) 225-2807
Patrick Murphy (PA-8), Phone: (202) 225-4276 Fax: (202) 225-9511
Jerry Nadler (NY-8), Phone: (202) 225-5635 Fax: (202) 225-6923
Sylvester Reyes (TX-16), Phone: (202) 225-4831 Fax: (202) 225-2016
Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2), Phone: (202) 225-3061 Fax: (202) 225-3094
Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Phone: (202) 225-2111 Fax: (202) 226-6890
Adam Schiff (CA-29), Phone: (202) 225-4176 Fax: (202) 225-5828
Joe Sestak (PA-7), Phone: (202) 225-2011 Fax: (202) 226-0280
Heath Shuler (NC-11), Phone: (202) 225-6401 Fax: (202) 226-6422
Louise Slaughter (NY-28), Phone: (202) 225-3615 Fax: (202) 225-7822
Zack Space (OH-18), Phone: (202) 225-6265 Fax: (202) 225-3394
Bart Stupak (MI-1), Phone: (202) 225 4735 Fax: (202) 225 4744
Bennie Thompson (MS-2), Phone: (202) 225-5876 Fax: (202) 225-5898
Mike Thompson (CA-1), Phone: (202) 225-3311 Fax: (202) 225-4335
Maxine Waters (CA-35), Phone: (202) 225-2201 Fax: (202) 225-7854
Tim Walz (MN-1), Phone: (202) 225-2472 Fax: (202) 225-3433
Diane Watson (CA-33), Phone: (202) 225-7084 Fax: (202) 225-2422
John Yarmuth (KY-3), Phone: (202) 225-5401 Fax: (202) 225-5776
So what else do you have to do while waiting for Super Tuesday results to come in? Start dialing.