Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

FISA vote delayed until July 8

McJoan is reporting that thanks to Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), the Senate has delayed voting on the telecom-amnesty laden FISA bill until July 8, so that Senators can go home for the Independence Day recess.

This is where you come in. Now that our Senators have to come home and face us, please let them know that giving telecom companies a free pass to spy on you and your neighbors, without a federal warrant compelling them to do so, is not acceptable.

So here are the numbers to call (in alphabetical order by state):

Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) - (208) 342-7985
Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) - (208) 334-1776
Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) - (503) 326-3386
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) - (503) 326-7525 [please call and thank Senator Wyden for his opposition to the bill]
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) - (206) 220-6400
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) - (206) 553-5545

Many Senators also have town hall meetings during the recess, so if you're aware of one please attend and speak out on this issue.

And if you get a commitment from one of our Northwest Senators, please drop us a note in the comments so we can cross them off the list and recognize them appropriately.

UPDATE: On the motion for cloture on the FISA bill, here is how our Senators voted (Yea vote being the wrong vote).

Craig - Yea
Crapo - Yea
Smith - Yea
Wyden - Nay
Cantwell - Nay [Thanks Senator Cantwell!]
Murray - Yea

While it's really no surprise that the Idaho Senators want this bill passed, Gordon Smith apparently hasn't figured out what way he needs to vote on this bill to try and save his job. But with Senator Murray also voting the wrong way, it's clear we have our work cut out for us.

And neither presidential candidate voted when the motion was on the floor. So while you're at it, call Senator Obama and demand some leadership from him on this issue. It's simply unacceptable for the Democratic nominee not to weigh in on this important issue, regardless of scheduling conflicts or fundraisers.

Obama's Senate office - (312) 886-3506
Obama's Campaign office - (866) 675-2008

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