An important Action Alert from our friends at DownsizeDC.org.
August 3, 2007
Subject: Why we’re confused, and what to do about it
We admit it. We’re confused. We would like to be able to tell you what is happening
with the so-called FISA “modernization” bill — which may
legalize government spying on innocent Americans — but we can’t. No
one understands what is going on with this bill, including the members of Congress.
There are so many different versions of this bill, and amendments to it, and
back-room negotiations and deals being made, that no one really knows anything
about what will come to the floor. And yet, Congressional leaders want to rush
to a vote before they recess.
This shouldn’t be happening, and it couldn’t happen if DownsizeDC.org’s “Read
the Bills Act” was the law of the land.
There’s also a lot of lying going on. For instance, President Bush
has claimed that the FISA law hasn’t been updated since 1978. TRUTH: The FISA
law has been updated more than 50 times since 1978, including multiple times
since Bush was elected.
President Bush signed these updates into law! Our elected leaders really
are scoundrels.
Here’s what we’re going to do. Let’s hit them on two fronts today. First, send
Congress a message telling them not to rush to a vote on FISA modernization
before they leave. Stress this in your comments. NO RUSHED VOTES!
We’ve defeated this monster before by delaying a vote, and there’s a real
chance we can do that again now.
You can send that message here.
Second, hit them on the “Read the Bills Act.” Send them a message
about RTBA. Tell them the confused rush to a vote on FISA modernization is proof
that we need DownsizeDC.org’s “Read the Bills Act” with its 7-day
waiting period before a vote can be held on any bill.
You can send that message here.
Finally, it would be really helpful if you could make phone calls too, stressing
these points. You will see the phone numbers for your elected representatives
when you log-in to send your message to Congress (or when you register if you
are sending a message for the first time).
Sorry for the confusion, but that’s the way these guys operate.
Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.
Perry Willis
Communications Director
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
http://www.DownsizeDC.org is sponsored by DownsizeDC.org, Inc. — a non-profit
educational organization promoting the ideas of individual liberty, personal
responsibility, free markets, and small government.
See Also: Editorial in Today’s LATimes,Don’t rush to modify FISA–Limited changes can be made quickly, but save the heavy lifting for after Congress’ recess and this news piece in the Boston Globe, “Bush urges Congress to pass wiretap bill
Lawmakers hustle to act before recess”.
