House Failure on Wiretapping Demands New Grassroots Action

On Friday, the House of Representatives voted 293-129 in favor of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. The text of the bill was released less than 24 hours before the vote in the House, preventing representatives and the public from understanding its true consequences. The bill:

Requires that a federal district court dismiss cases against telecommunications companies if the companies can prove that the Bush administration told them the information request was legal, effectively granting immunity for companies who illegally violated their customers' privacy. This is not true judicial oversight!
Provides minimal Congressional oversight of the government's surveillance programs
Violates the Fourth Amendment by allowing the government to listen in on private communications without obtaining individual warrants for each search

The House passed this deplorable legislation and the Senate is likely to follow suit as early as Tuesday of this week. We have repeatedly voiced our dissent, but our Congresspeople have ignored our calls. It is clear that we need a well-organized grassroots movement to hold our senators and representatives accountable to their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution.

To this end, we ask that you join the People's Campaign for the Constitution. This campaign will remind our representatives that they are elected to serve the people, protect civil liberties and uphold the Constitution. To pledge your support and to get involved, visit www.constitutioncampaign.org.

Thank you for all you do.

Bill of Rights Defense Committee

P.S. Our representatives need to hear from us. To find out how your representative voted on the FISA Amendments Act. Then call him or her (dial the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121) to express your thanks or disappointment.

Thank you for all you do.

Bill of Rights Defense Committee
info@bordc.org
http://bordc.org