FISA: House Bill Good, Senate Bill BAD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday October 09, 2007 · 12:28 PM PDT

2007/10/09 · 12:28

Contrary to the highly-spun pro-GOP NYT puff piece that's got so many people panicking and giving up (as was no doubt the plan), the House FISA bill (at least one working draft of which has apparently been reviewed by the ACLU) is a good bill -- so much so that Bush will likely veto it. It's the SENATE bill that's the monstrosity.

That's not just me saying that. That's Glenn Greenwald and Christy Hardin Smith, two very smart and knowledgeable cookies, saying that.

Follow me for what to do next.

You can find direct dial information for your House member here. And for your Senator here. And katymine over at FDL found some great toll-free numbers through the Capitol switchboard as well:

1 (800) 828 - 0498
1 (800) 459 - 1887
1 (800) 614 - 2803
1 (866) 340 - 9281
1 (866) 338 - 1015
1 (877) 851 - 6437

As Christy says:

What is needed is lots of calls, faxes and other contact with legislators asking them to stand up for constitutional principles and the rule of law — American values that ought to be valued by all of us. Please make calls today to all of your elected representatives in the House and Senate and tell them this is important to you — and that it is important that they get this right. That means no retroactive immunity for telecom companies that may have already broken the law. No bypassing the FISA court where jurisdiction is appropriate for US citizen surveillance. And serious checks and balances for any so-called "umbrella warrants" need to be built in, if not those types of warrants removed altogether. The ACLU has more on the FISA issues involved.

You know what to do. (Oh, and do feel free to whisper the magic words "Primary Challengers". Because there will be some -- and some serious ones -- this go-round.)

This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

Make YOUR voice heard!

Comments are closed on this story.