The FISA Fight Continues on Monday

Written by: Daniel I. Medress on Feb 1, 2008 3:30 PM EST

DFA members have been crucial in the battle to block President Bush's attempt to provide retroactive immunity to the telecommunications companies who participated in his program of warrantless wiretapping.

In December, DFA members made thousands of calls to their senators and to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and forced him to table reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He did this in the face of a threatened filibuster that was being organized by Senators Chris Dodd, Russ Feingold, Ted Kennedy, and others.

Just this week, after thousands of phone calls to senators, the Senate was unable to reach cloture on a debate over the Protect America Act which would have granted retroactive immunity to AT&T, Verizon, and the other telecom companies who assisted President Bush's program of illegal spying.

Like a monster at the end of a movie who refuses to die, retroactive immunity will have another chance this coming Monday. Fortunately, "the Dodd/Feingold amendment, which would strip retroactive immunity for the telecoms from the bill, will only need 51 votes to pass."

Check out TPMMuckraker for an important update on the status of FISA, the Protect America Act, and retroactive telecom immunity: http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/2008/02/todays_must_read_267.php

Danny, Communications Director

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