Chicago - As the United States Senate returns from the Independence Day recess to debate a major overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today called on Senator Barack Obama to vote no and reject this unconstitutional measure. Last month, the House of Representatives passed the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 6304), a bill that not only allows for the wide, sweeping and unwarranted collection of Americans' communications, but also grants immunity to telecommunications companies for their collaboration in domestic spying. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill as early as tomorrow, July 8. The ACLU of Illinois strongly opposes this legislation.
"Since 9/11 it seems the Bush administration, with Congress as a willing accomplice, has sidestepped our most cherished constitutional principles whenever convenient," said Colleen K. Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois. "Senator Obama recognized the need to protect these principles and the rule of law last summer - he should not cave to the Bush Administration now."
To contact Senator Obama and encourage him to stand up for the Constitution, call his senate office at (202) 224-2854 or his campaign office at (866) 675-2008, or send a free fax, via the ACLU website:
https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr009=t80c2ik4t2.app25a&pagename=homepage&id=987&page=UserAction
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