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Are you outraged about the recent Intelligence Authorization Act passed
by the Senate?<br>
It gives <b>
retroactive immunity </b>to the telecom industry for participating in
past illegal warrantless wiretaps.<br>
<br>
The Washington Post called this senate vote a key victory for the White
House.<br>
<b><br>
How Maryland Senators voted on this...</b><br>
<br>
<b>Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) voted with the Republicans
and
voted FOR the telecom immunity provision. </b>She also voted with the
Republicans for the final passage of the bill. <br>
You can let her know your concern here: <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://mikulski.senate.gov/mailform.html">http://mikulski.senate.gov/mailform.html</a><br>
<br>
Conversely, Maryland Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) opposed the telecom
immunity provision and voted against it and against final passage of
the bill. <br>
You can thank him here <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://cardin.senate.gov/contact/">http://cardin.senate.gov/contact/</a>
<br>
<br>
The corresponding house bill does NOT contain immunity for the telecom
industry. So it still may not become law!<br>
<br>
You can contact our Rep Steny Hoyer (D-MD) at
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.hoyer.house.gov/contact/email.asp">http://www.hoyer.house.gov/contact/email.asp</a><br>
and thank him for his stand and ask that he continue to stand firm on
no telecom immunity. <br>
<br>
<b>Rep Hoyer's statement</b><br>
<br>
Rep Hoyer said: "...Finally, this legislation is silent on the issue of
retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that possibly
violated privacy laws in turning over consumer information because
Congress does not have full access to information about what the
companies did. Simply stated, it would be grossly irresponsible for
Congress to grant blanket immunity for companies without even knowing
whether their conduct was legal or not. And, importantly, this view is
shared by the Chairman and Ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary
Committee." [Extract from a speech given by Rep Hoyer to the Georgetown
law school in Oct. 2007.]<br>
<br>
The full text of his speech is available here:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.washingtoncontinent.com/TWCstories/TWCnewspages2007/hoyer_visits_georgetown_07_091000144.htm">http://www.washingtoncontinent.com/TWCstories/TWCnewspages2007/hoyer_visits_georgetown_07_091000144.htm</a><br>
<br>
<b>How the presidential candidates voted on this...</b><br>
<br>
Both the democratic presidential candidates have said they oppose
telecom immunity. Sen. Obama was present and voted against the immunity
provision. Sen. Hillary Clinton was out campaigning and did not vote on
the immunity provision. Both candidates were not present for the final
vote on the bill.<br>
<br>
The Republican candidate, John McCain, voted for the immunity provision
and for the final bill.<br>
<br>
<b>Sources:</b><br>
<br>
Washington Post article:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR2008021201202.html?wpisrc=newsletter">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR2008021201202.html?wpisrc=newsletter</a><br>
<br>
The official US Senate site:<br>
The immunity provision was in senate bill S.2248 passed on 2/12/08.<br>
<br>
Votes to remove the immunity provision:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00015">http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00015</a><br>
<br>
Vote on the final bill (the Intelligence Authorization Act renewal):<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00020">http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00020</a><br>
<br>
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