Blog of Rights
Amanda
Simon
06/25/2008

FISA Hits the Senate. Again. Sigh.

By Amanda Simon at 1:19pm

That whistling you're hearing is the slow release of air from the ACLU's tires. As the moments tick by, the grim reality is we're headed towards a total capitulation on FISA and telecom immunity. Well, I hope you weren't too attached to the Fourth Amendment. Or really any sense of justice at all.

As the debate moves forward today, we'll keep you up to speed on the latest from our nation's capitol. I wanted to point out a few hotttt stories, though.

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06/20/2008

FISA Debate: Not So Much a Debate as a Death March for the Fourth Amendment

By Amanda Simon at 12:30pm

Depressing, I know, but it's the truth. Get ready to lose all faith in government. Maybe an overstatement. Maybe not. To get our official line on this bill, read our letter to the House.

Watching the debate on the floor has given a few memorable moments. Some infuriating, some hysterical, some make me want to kiss Barbara Lee. Here's a wrap up of my favorite and least favorite moments.

  • Lame Duck Heather Wilson (R-NM) did her usual spiel and claimed that, after the New York Times revealed the NSA program, Congress conducted "extensive oversight." All due respect, Ms. Wilson, but it really didn't.
  • A few notes for Darrell "Viper On!" Issa:
    1. You are wrong. "Both sides" have NOT been working on this. The White House and those seeking to appease it have been working on it. Everyone else has been shut out.
    2. A "no" vote is a "play to special interests"? How interesting you bring up special interests… *cough*telecomlobby*cough*. "Hello pot" "Oh, hey, kettle"
  • Barbara Lee perhaps said the best thing I've heard throughout this debate: "This bill scares me to death and I urge a no vote!" Amen, Barbara. Amen.

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06/19/2008

This Spade is a Spade: FISA Deal Is Bunk

By Amanda Simon at 7:38pm

So, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced his precious FISA deal today and I’m sure it will not come as great shock to this general audience that we at the ACLU think it’s crap. And by “crap” I mean unconstitutional.

Remember that horrible bill the Senate passed earlier this year? The one that had virtually no Fourth Amendment protections? Ok, now imagine Congressman Hoyer and Senator Bond putting a really pretty, really meaningless bow around it to distract you from what’s actually inside. Then they added a giveaway to the phone companies. There. Now you have the current FISA bill. Let me explain.

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06/06/2008

Something Unconstitutional This Way Comes

By Amanda Simon at 5:11pm

If you've been feeling a bizarre sense of apprehension or dread lately and can't pinpoint the source, I may be able to help. Senator Christopher Bond (R-Mo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, floated a horrible "compromise" on FISA legislation and it's been unanswered by the Democrats for two weeks.

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05/14/2008

FISA: Deal or No Deal?

By Amanda Simon at 3:45pm
Here in Washington, rumors are swirling about a deal on FISA being brokered by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Ranking Intelligence Committee Member Senator Kit Bond. We're taking the news to heart and getting ready for the other shoe to drop in this saga. Letting the Read More»
04/18/2008

A Federal Shield Law for Journalists. Now, OK?

By Amanda Simon at 11:59am
Earlier this week, Senators John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama all signaled their support for a federal shield law. Hopefully, the combined voices of three presidential nominees will spur Congress into action. Last year the House passed its version of a federal shield law for journalists, the Read More»
04/08/2008

Quantico Circus

By Amanda Simon at 4:21pm
Today the Washington Post took us further into the Quantico Circuits and the problems inherent within. The circuits link together the FBI and phone companies and are used during wiretap investigations. Last month, a whistleblower named Babak Pasdar came forward to disc
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04/01/2008

Spring and Surveillance in the Air

By Amanda Simon at 1:54pm
Congress has come back to town (and so has baseball!) and with it comes renewed debate on updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or FISA. We left off two weeks ago with the House refusing to take up the Senate bill and passing Read More»
03/05/2008

More NSL Abuse? Color Us Shocked.

By Amanda Simon at 5:11pm
Today the FBI Director, Robert Mueller, let slip in a Senate hearing that there has been more (yes, more) FBI abuse of the National Security Letter (or NSL) statute.NSLs allow agents to obtain personal information on Americans as a part of ongoing investigations.The catch is that agents need no court review to hand out an NSL and have be
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02/08/2008

House Committee to Friends: "Immunity? Really?"

By Amanda Simon at 5:31pm
In a 12th-hour plea today, key members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee urged their fellow members to reject telecom immunity when legislation "updating" the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) heads back their way after the Senate passes its bill. The letter, sent by Chairman John D. Dingell (D-Mich.
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