As I've mentioned before, I get a lot of political emails urging me to do this or that. Frequently I comply, this was one of them. I got an action request from
Act for a Change - the activist wing of
Working Assets to call my Congress Critters and the President about the USA PATRIOT Act today. When I clicked the link, it took me to an Amnesty International
Virtual Sit In page.
More below:
So when I went to the Virtual Sit in page, I read the following:
National Week of Student Action (NWSA)
TAKE ACTION! - APRIL 8TH VIRTUAL SIT-IN
TAKE ACTION - Call your Senators, Representatives and the White House on April 8th!
Some provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act are set to "sunset," or expire by the end of 2005, while other provisions will remain in place if not removed or amended by Congress. On April 8th, activists from around the country will be flooding the U.S House, Senate and White house with phone calls - urging them to:
- Enforce the sunsets currently in the USA PATRIOT Act - when Congress voted for the Act they also voted for the sunsets;
- Co-Sponsor and pass the SAFE Act increasing judicial scrutiny over government surveillance activity;
- Amend the over broad definition of "domestic terrorism" so it does not infringe on the right of free speech and freedom of assembly.
For more background information on the PATRIOT Act.
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SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT
To phone a Congressperson, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. The operator will connect you with the desired office. To contact the White House call 202 456 1111
Find the name of your Representatives and Senators.
If your Representative or Senator has not already announced their support for the sunsets and the extension of sunset provisions to other parts of the act, use the script as a guide. If your member has already shown support, please call to thank him or her for their support.
Remember: when you call your representative's or senator's office you will likely speak to a staff person, be polite, tell them that you are a constituent, and explain why you are calling. When calling the White House you will be asked to press 1 if you wish to leave a comment. An operator will then ask for your State and ask what your comment is. Each day all the comments are compiled into a report for the President. The report also contains the number of people who have called concerning a particular issue. Also, when reading the script below simply substitute Representative/Senator for 'The President', or 'President Bush'.
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So I called, then sent a followup email. If you live in Colorado Congressional District 1, I've included our Congress Critter's contact information below:
Rep. Diana Degette
Office Locations:
Denver Office
600 Grant Street
Suite 202
Denver, Colorado 80203
Telephone: (303) 844-4988
Facsimile: (303) 844-4996
Washington, DC Office
1527 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: (202) 225-4431
Facsimile: (202) 225-5657
http://www.house.gov/degette/contact/comment.html
*****
Sen. Ken Salazar
Washington, DC Office
SDB-40A Senate Dirksen Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5852 (Phone)
202-228-5036 (Fax)
Denver, CO
2300 15th St, Suite 450
Denver, CO 80202
303-455-7600 (Phone)
303-455-8851 (Fax)
http://salazar.senate.gov/contactus.cfm
*****
Sen. Wayne Allard
Washington, D.C.
521 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington , D.C. 20510
202-224-5941
fax: 202-224-6471
Denver
7340 E. Caley, Suite 215
Englewood , CO 80111
303-220-7414
fax: 303-220-8126
http://allard.senate.gov/contactme/index.cfm
So, I urge you, my fellow Kossacks, to do the same. The civil rights you protect may be your own!