Final PATRIOT vote: Tell Congress to Vote No on Renewal

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Wed, 16 Nov 2005 17:03:42 -0800 (PST)

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> EFFector Special Action Alert, November 15, 2005 action

>

> THE FINAL PATRIOT VOTE IS HERE --

> TELL CONGRESS TO VOTE NO ON PATRIOT RENEWAL

>

> The House of Representatives is expected to vote tomorrow on a

> bill to renew the USA PATRIOT Act. A Senate vote is expected

> before the week it out. Now is the time to call your senator and

> representatives and say " No! " to PATRIOT renewal.

>

> The final conference process for PATRIOT reauthorization has gone

> very badly for those attempting to reform the bill. Growing

> concerns in the House, and key compromises agreed in the Senate

> have all been ignored. Indeed, the draft bill obtained by EFF

> actually makes some PATRIOT powers worse:

>

> * " National Security Letters " , which the Washington Post

> reveals have been used to spy on tens of thousands of

> ordinary Americans, have been strengthened. New criminal

> penalties have been added for NSL recipients who try to

> speak about their experience.

>

> * The draft bill jettisons the four-year time limits on

> several PATRIOT powers,replacing them with longer,

> seven-year " sunset " clauses. All other PATRIOT powers that

> were set to expire this year will be renewed without any

> time limit.

>

> * Some politicians, confident that no one would dare vote

> against PATRIOT, have added their own irrelevant

> amendments: piggybacking other unpopular reforms onto this

> terrible bill.

>

> This bill flouts the growing concern in Congress with the

> documented abuses of the prior version of the Patriot Act and the

> flawed process of PATRIOT reauthorization. They're growing

> restless on Capitol Hill: one more call could be enough to start

> a rebellion in both Houses.

>

> Time is short: sources say the PATRIOT vote will be rushed

> through in the next few days. Please call your representative and

> senators now. Ask them vote " no " on the PATRIOT reauthorization

> act.

>

> Please visit our Action Center at the link below. It will give

> you the phone numbers to call, and suggestions on what to tell

> your elected official.

> <https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?alertId=187 & pg=makeACall>

>

> Learn more about the bill, and its new problems, see:

> <http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004166.php>

>

> Thanks for your help and determination,

>

> The EFF Activism Team.

>

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> The EFF Special Action Alert is published by:

>

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>

> Editor:

> Danny O'Brien, Activism Coordinator

> danny

>

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