Oppose S. 2453, the National Security Surveillance Act.

American Civil Liberties Union : ACLU Demands House Reject Attempts to “Update” FISA, Says Constitution Must Not Be Undermined in Election-Year Tactic:

"Today the American Civil Liberties Union urged the House of Representatives to reject attempts to erode Fourth Amendment protections under the guise of 'updating' the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), as the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security met to consider several proposals that would condone President Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program.

'The Republican leadership is recklessly pushing legislation based on an election strategy, with no regard for how these bills undermine our fundamental freedoms,' said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. 'FISA doesn’t need to be updated. We hope that lawmakers will act to uphold the Constitution and Bill of Rights.'.....

The ACLU has raised strong objections to S. 2453, the National Security Surveillance Act. Sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and drafted in close consultation with the White House, the Cheney-Specter bill would make complying with FISA and the Fourth Amendment optional for the president. The bill would also vastly expand the government’s ability to conduct warrantless surveillance and physical searches of Americans’ homes and businesses without judicial check.

Representatives Heather Wilson (R-NM), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) have introduced a similar bill, HR 5825, in the House. That proposal would give the president unprecedented power to conduct warrantless spying and physical searches of Americans on American soil for months at a time, without any judicial check or finding that an American is conspiring with al Qaeda. The bill also authorizes the warrantless surveillance program. The ACLU noted the bill allows any act of terrorism to trigger the suspension of the court order requirements of FISA."

Comment: This administration is trying to use 9/11 as a cover for an attack on our civil liberties and their effort to extend executive power. I want the courts to continue to play a role in assuring that privacy is not invaded without just cause.