In a bitter disappointment, we learned today that Senator Dianne Feinstein and 79 other senators voted in favor of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which allows for mass and untargeted surveillance on Americans’ communications and gives blanket immunity to the telecoms who handed over our private email and phone records without warrant.
This is a sad day in the history of our democracy—a day in which Congress has abdicated its responsibility to check the President and in so doing has undermined our system of checks and balances.
We appreciate the huge effort made by our ACLU friends and family who urged our legislators to oppose the FISA deal. While we mourn the loss of our privacy rights, we are heartened to know how quickly our network can spring to action.
We are also inspired by the courage of Senator Barbara Boxer who called on her colleagues to oppose this deal. In her statement on the Senate floor, she described the deal as “a fig leaf that attempts to hide the truth about the warrantless surveillance program at the expense of the rights of our citizens.”
We thank Senator Boxer for demonstrating her leadership on civil liberties issues and government accountability.
It’s important for our representatives to hear from us when they take courageous or controversial stands to protect our fundamental freedoms. Please take a moment to call Senator Boxer, and Representatives Susan Davis and Bob Filner and thank them for their votes against the FISA deal. It’s also important to let our representatives know how disappointed we are when they compromise our constitutional rights. Please take a few more moments to call Senator Feinstein, and Representatives Darrell Issa, Brian Bilbray, and Duncan Hunter to let them know that their actions are unacceptable. You can find their contact information here or call:
Senator Barbara Boxer 202.224.3553 and 619.239.3884
Senator Dianne Feinstein 202.224.3841 and 619.231.9712
Rep. Susan Davis 202.225.2040 and 619.280.5353
Rep. Bob Filner 202.225.8045 and 619.422.5963
Rep. Darrell Issa 202.225.3906 and 760.599.5000
Rep. Brian Bilbray 202.225.0508 and 760.737.8438
Rep. Duncan Hunter 202.225.5672 and 619.573.3001
Thank you!
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
More Info
https://www.aclusandiego.org/news_item.php?article_id=000627
