From Democracy For America, I received this email:
Last month, you took action and the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that did not include retroactive immunity. Immunity would let telecommunication companies who broke the law helping the Bush Administration spy on Americans off the hook.
Now, Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic Majority Leader, is using procedural tricks to make your work irrelevant by bringing the Intelligence Committee’s version of the same bill to the Senate floor instead. What’s the big difference? This version of the bill includes retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies.
Wait! That’s not all. Even this bill can be stopped if Senator Reid just respects the hold Senator Chris Dodd has placed on the bill.
However, media reports indicate that Senator Reid will not honor Senator Dodd’s hold. That’s where we come in, and we have to act fast. The vote could happen in the next several hours. Please pick up your phone right now and call Senator Reid:
Senator Harry Reid
202-224-3542
Please report how your call went here:
http://www.DemocracyforAmerica
Here’s the suggested message:
“I’m calling to ask Senator Reid to honor Senator Dodd’s hold on the Intelligence Committee’s FISA reform bill.
I do not support any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies who helped the Bush Administration spy on Americans. I’m counting on Senator Reid to stand up to President Bush and for the Constitution.”
We don’t have much time. If we work quickly, we might be able to stop this bill. Please take a few minutes right now.
Thank you for everything you do.
-Charles
Charles Chamberlain
Political Director
Sadly, even if this bill didn’t have telecom immunity it would still have blanket warrants, which are unconstitutional (see 4th Amendment). Congress should let the whole FISA mess sunset, which would restore the original law. Which President Bush has admitted to violating, with impunity. What a mess.