FISA Vote Postponed

Mark Fiore: The Spies Who Love You

Feingold wins delay on surveillance bill

Post-Crescent, WI:

Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold and other opponents of a compromise electronic surveillance bill left town today with a victory: They delayed action on the legislation until Congress returns from a Fourth of July break.

"I hope that over the July 4th holiday, senators will take a closer look at this deeply flawed legislation and understand how it threatens the civil liberties of the American people," Feingold said in a statement. "It is possible to defend this country from terrorists while also protecting the rights and freedoms that define our nation.”

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid said he will likely take up the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act on July 8.

Senate Delays Vote on Immunity

Electronic Frontier Foundation:

It's official: Thanks to overwhelming grassroots action, and the heroic efforts of Senators Dodd and Feingold, the Senate's vote on whether to grant phone companies immunity from the law for assisting in the President's illegal wiretapping program has been delayed until after July 4th Recess!

This is an unexpected reprieve for civil liberties and the rule of law. As recently as last night, the mainstream press was reporting that the immunity bill would see swift and uncontested approval. Senate Leaders emphasized that passing an immunity bill this week was one of their highest priorities. And yet, in the end, the bill simply wasn't as uncontested and noncontroversial as the pundits and politicans thought it was. [snip]

EFF would like to extend its sincere thanks to everyone who's taken up this cause as their own. Whether you've contacted your Congressperson, blogged or written your thoughts on the issue, or just talked it over with friends, your action has made a difference today.

Keep calling and/or writing your senators and remind them of our rights of natural law as guaranteed by the Constitution, the highest law of this country, which they took an oath to support and defend:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.