FISA Fight: Responsibility

Speaker Pelosi just released the following statement

All Members of Congress fully understand and support our responsibility to protect the American people and the need for the President, the Congress, and policymakers to have the best possible intelligence to fight terrorism.

On Friday, a surveillance law insisted upon by the President last August will expire. Today, an overwhelming majority of House Democrats voted to extend that law for three weeks so that agreement could be reached with the Senate on a better version of that law. The President and House Republicans refused to support the extension and therefore will bear the responsibility should any adverse national consequences result.

However, even if the Protect America Act expires later this week, the American people can be confident that our country remains safe and strong. Every order entered under the law can remain in effect for 12 months from the date it was issued.

Furthermore, the underlying Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which provides for the surveillance of terrorists and provides that in emergencies surveillance can begin without warrant, remains intact and available to our intelligence agencies. Unlike last August, the FISA court has no backlog of cases, and thus can issue necessary court orders for surveillance immediately.

Looks like the House doesn't intend to be rushed this time. Which gives us more time to call those Blue Dogs who want to sell out the Party and the caucus and tell them to support the House version of the bill, the RESTORE Act.

Here are those Blue Dogs:

• Rep. Leonard L. Boswell, D-Iowa -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Robert E. "Bud" Cramer, D-Ala. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Tim Holden, D-Pa. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Christopher Carney, D-Pa. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]

Update: Go check out what one of our Better Democrats candidates, Martin Heinrich in New Mexico, has to say about FISA.