FISA DEAL-MAKING IN CONGRESS

progressive

(Tue, 13 May 2008 11:58:00 -0500 (CDT)) --- PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY! A new Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) bill is being
drafted behind closed doors. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has
been negotiating with Senator Jay Rockefeller, and Rep. Hoyer has
said he wants to reach a compromise before Congress leaves on May
22 for its Memorial Day recess.

A House compromise could weaken Fourth Amendment protections for
all of us, while at the same time interfering with the lawsuits
against the telecommunications companies that shared customer data
with the government without warrants. Don't let that happen! Tell
your representative:

* Don't give in to the Bush administration's fear-mongering.

* Vote against any compromise that allows basket or blanket
warrants, which would permit surveillance of entire streams of
communication, including those of many people who are not
suspects. The Fourth Amendment requires warrants based on
individual suspicion.

* Vote against any compromise that makes the courts dismiss the
cases against telecoms, effectively giving them retroactive
immunity. Congress should not meddle in the lawsuits against
the telecoms: It should let the courts help expose the truth
about illegal domestic spying.

This administration has proven it needs more oversight from Congress
and the courts, not less. Any deal on FISA that the White House
will accept is not acceptable. Find your rep's Washington office
number at www.house.gov or call 1-202-224-3121 and ask the switchboard
operator to connect you to your representative.

Thank you for all you do.

Bill of Rights Defense Committee
info@bordc.org

bordc.org

The People's Campaign for the Constitution [constitutioncampaign.org]
is gaining momentum with local groups forming in 32 states nationwide.
Pledge today at

constitutioncampaign.org

others in your community and around the country to restore
constitutional rights, checks and balances, and the rule of law,
which have been violated under the guise of a permanent "War on
Terror." Warrantless surveillance is just one aspect of the attacks
on our Constitution. We need to build a broad-based movement that
connects all different groups concerned about the erosion of
constitutional limits on government power.

Outraged? Share it in a video. Videotape yourself or your friends
stating what you believe is the most outrageous abuse of civil
liberties or human rights since 9/11. Deadline is May 27. We
will use a selection of videos submitted to introduce BORDC's video
promoting the People's Campaign for the Constitution. Details are
at

constitutioncampaign.org

Bill of Rights Defense Committee (bordc@mail.democracyinaction.org).

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