From: Shayna Gelender, Field Coordinator
Date: February 27, 2006
Final Senate Patriot Act vote tomorrow!
Although lawmakers from both sides of the aisle agree that the
president has overstepped his authority, Congress is now on the brink
of voting to reauthorize and expand the Patriot Act, which would make
secret searches of Americans' financial and internet records more
coercive and more punitive.
Please call your senators right now: the final Senate vote is scheduled
for tomorrow, Tuesday, February 28. Demand that your senators oppose
Patriot Act reauthorization unless significant changes are made to
protect American privacy.
[Capitol switchboard for all Senators: 202-224-3121 Also:
888-818-6641, 888-355-3588, 800-426-8073, 800-828-0498 and 800-SOB-USOB
(800-762-8762) (that's for Senate Office Building, not what you're
thinking.... :-)]
For talking points, go to: http://action.aclu.org/call.
Last week, after months of debate, some key legislators cut a deal with
the White House to reauthorize the Patriot Act without making the most
important changes needed to protect our civil liberties.
The White House refused to negotiate in good faith on the most
important civil liberties and privacy protections, namely requiring
that any records sought be about a suspected foreign terrorist or an
American conspiring with terrorists. The reauthorization bill fails to
include these and other critical protections.
Senators Feingold, Bingaman and Leahy are attempting to add amendments
that would help fix key problems with the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act
must not be reauthorized unless these important changes are made to
protect our freedoms.
Call your Senators right now and tell them to support the amendments
offered by Senator Feingold and others to fix the Patriot Act.
Let us know you've made the call: action@aclunc.org