I Called My Senators About the FISA Amendments Act, Did You?

I mentioned the passage of this bill in the House last week. It is coming to the Senate floor this week. I said I’d call my own Senators and I just did so, not more than five minutes ago.

Please, go to the EFF action center’s alert, enter your ZIP code or login, and make the call. Help the EFF by logging the results of your call, too. To help with the logging, be sure to ask for the Senator’s stance on the bill, ask with whom you are speaking and don’t be shy about reading the script provided or using it as a jumping off point.

I would suggest going further, too, in trying to find out if either of your Senators will support the bill with the immunity provision, despite opposing immunity, as I warned Senator Obama has stated. Make sure they understand you find such a stance untenable and if they oppose immunity, they should work to defeat the provision separate from any other concerns the bill may address. I would even recommend pressing any on-the-fence senators on what other aspects of the bill they would support if they support that non-comitall line od reasoning. The EFF’s analysis doesn’t indicate there really is anything to this bill other than telecom immunity.

I didn’t think to ask Mikulski’s staffer where she stood. I am not happy with her agreement with my views on past issues so wouldn’t be surprised if she supports the bill. I was grateful that Cardin’s office says he does oppose immunity and when I pressed he opposes immunity in any form, that unlike others he would not support the bill at all if it includes immunity. I hope that equates to a willingness to filibuster or do whatever else is necessary to defeat this draft of the bill and any future draft that tries to absolve the telcos of their culpability in the illegal wire tapping of US citizens.

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