Action Alert: Stop the Patriot Act Renewal
The House of Representatives passed the Patriot Act renewal legislation today. (More here and here.) The Senate is scheduled to vote on Friday. It's a bad, bad bill, filled with new crimes, including drug offenses, death eligible offenses and habeas restrictions, as well as enhanced penalties, many of which have nothing to do with terrorism. Check it out yourself here.
A filibuster is possible.
A Senate Democratic leadership aide said opponents seemed to have from 40 to 46 votes to sustain a filibuster. Republicans said it was uncertain how many votes they would have. "It's going to be close," a Senate Republican aide said.
This may be your last chance. Call your senators now. Tell them that you want them to:
- Vote no cloture and support a filibuster.
- Vote NO on the conference report, should it get to a vote.
Here is a letter by the ACLU explaining why the bill is bad for civil liberties.
If your senator is already planning to vote for a filibuster, thank them and tell them to stand their ground:
If you are from New Hampshire, Idaho, Alaska, Illinois, Wisconsin, or Colorado, one of your Senators is a member of the "civil liberties six" -- Sununu (R-NH), Craig (R-ID), Murkowski (R-AK), Durbin (D-IL), Feingold (D-WI) and Salazar (D-CO) -- who is supporting the bipartisan filibuster. Be sure to tell him or her "thank you" and to stand their ground.
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