Thursday, June 19, 2008

"The House and the Senate should not be taking up this bill...."


Senator Feingold:
"The proposed FISA deal is not a compromise; it is a capitulation. The House and Senate should not be taking up this bill, which effectively guarantees immunity for telecom companies alleged to have participated in the President’s illegal program, and which fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans at home. Allowing courts to review the question of immunity is meaningless when the same legislation essentially requires the court to grant immunity. And under this bill, the government can still sweep up and keep the international communications of innocent Americans in the U.S. with no connection to suspected terrorists, with very few safeguards to protect against abuse of this power. Instead of cutting bad deals on both FISA and funding for the war in Iraq, Democrats should be standing up to the flawed and dangerous policies of this administration."
h/t to mcjoan, of course
--the BB

3 comments:

Earthbound Spirit said...

That's my Senator - the only one to vote against the Patriot Act. Wouldn't Obama-Feingold be a great presidential ticket? It'll never happen, but I can dream...

Paul said...

Thank you for keeping this man in office!

Earthbound Spirit said...

He's a throwback to the old progressives, like LaFollette - independent-minded and ethical as the day is long. Russ being in office keeps me hopeful that we haven't totally lost our way, in this state - or this country...