Dodd And Feingold Will Filibuster Telecom Immunity

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) released the following statement today in response to the announcement that the Senate this week will consider the compromise legislation that would reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):

This is a deeply flawed bill, which does nothing more than offer retroactive immunity by another name. We strongly urge our colleagues to reject this so-called 'compromise' legislation and oppose any efforts to consider this bill in its current form. We will oppose efforts to end debate on this bill as long as it provides retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies that may have participated in the President's warrantless wiretapping program, and as long as it fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans.

"If the Senate does proceed to this legislation, our immediate response will be to offer an amendment that strips the retroactive immunity provision out of the bill. We hope our colleagues will join us in supporting Americans' civil liberties by opposing retroactive immunity and rejecting this so-called 'compromise' legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) says he will support Dodd and Feingold:

"Unfortunately, the FISA compromise bill establishes a process where the likely outcome is immunity to the telecommunications carriers who participated in the President's warrantless wiretapping program. Sen. Reid remains opposed to retroactive immunity, which undermines efforts to hold the Bush Administration accountable for violating the law. Thus, he will cosponsor the amendment offered by Senators Dodd and Feingold to strip out the immunity provision, and support their efforts to strip immunity on the floor. "

Read more about Feingold's efforts to get Democrats to stand up for civil liberties here.

Comments

[UpstateNY]

02:56 PM on 06/26/2008

I wouldn't even thinkt he retroactive immunity is legal??? Those telecommunication companies spend big money on lawyers and they have a lot them - I'm sure they checked on the legality of their actions and I'm sure they were told these wire-taps were illegal. Case closed - let a court decide if the suits being brought have merit. That's how we do this in America - or so I thought.

I'm ashamed of the House and Nancy Pelosi for passing this and I will be really ashamed and upset with Obama if he continues to support it!.

As others have said, we are watching, we know this is important!

[jackie4444]

06:21 PM on 06/25/2008

I have a real basic question. Hillary has said too many times to count now that even elected delegates are not bound and are permitted to cast votes for a person other than the candidate to whom they 'belong'. Assuming that's true, is there anything PROCEDURAL (forget 'practical' for the moment) which would prevent campaign delegates, more or less en masse and based on entreaties from their constituents, from banding together and come August nominating someone such as Dodd rather than Obama or Clinton?

[olenska]

04:32 PM on 06/25/2008

I was an early supporter of Feingold when he was considering a presidential run. His poll numbers were not high, since he is a serious man and not flamboyant. Wish he had run. what a hero he is

[midnightwriter]

09:44 AM on 06/25/2008

Finally, two senators with a little backbone. I said Dodd should of been the nominee from day one but would anyone notice? No.

[Nyla785]

09:23 AM on 06/25/2008

I want my 4th Amendment rights back...AND the right to legal redress when someone violates it.
anything less is unconstitutional. And making precedent of this government/corporate alliance to undermine constitutional rights is horrifying.

[momofsonofwar]

09:09 AM on 06/25/2008

Russ is inspirational, but I'm also from Wis. and have seen him in action at the town hall meetings that he attends.

[olivia]

09:01 AM on 06/25/2008

These two heroes and Kucinich are nearly the only champions the American people have.

Obama has to get elected above all, and I know the Republicans will try to paint him as weak on national security if he opposes this bill but I do not think it would work. It's clearly about our rights and freedom.

Obama please stand with these two, against the bill and for the people.

[phoffman]

08:58 AM on 06/25/2008

I have some constituional questions about this:
1) Can congress grant immunity for violations of the constitution?
2) If the answer is yes, then wouldn't the constituiton would be irrelevent?
3) How can a the Bill of Rights, a document ment to protect citizens from the excesses of government power, be considered valid if the government it was ment to portect us from can grant itself and its agents immunity?

Any constituional lawyers out there know the answers?

[carex]

09:09 AM on 06/25/2008

Congress can grant immunity through passage of laws.

No the constitution is not irrelevent, because laws are subject to review by the court, which can strike them down should they be deemed unconstitutional.

Your last question is a balancing act which law makers and the courts deal with on a daily basis. Courts routinely judge over reaches of government.

[phoffman]

09:39 AM on 06/25/2008

I should habve been more clear - i was looking for case law on this issue. Im not a constituional lawyer but i cant think of an example of congress granting immunity for a clear constitutional violation. If it did, was there a legal fight over it, and what was the outcome?

[sd4peace]

08:17 AM on 06/25/2008

I understand that by opposing this bill there is a risk that low info voters will be swayed by the inevitable Repub attack that he is soft on terror, but there can really be no ambiguity on this issue. This is too important.

Let's Go Barack! This is YOUR fight too! Time to stand on principle.

[Whipsmart13]

09:02 AM on 06/25/2008

How is this more important than rising energy and food prices?

[Henk]

09:04 AM on 06/25/2008

I understand that by opposing this bill there is a risk that low info voters will be swayed by the inevitable Repub attack....

This kind of thinking is what is killing the Democratic party! How do you "understand" this? Where are the polls that show this is a high priority for voters? Gas prices are killing us, food costs are killing us, our home equity is being eaten up, 5 years later we are no closer to getting out of Iraq, 12 billion a month is being wasted there and you think that Republican scare tactics are going to work this one more time? You think that the average voter gives one hoot about FISA when they can't decide which to do, put gas in the car of buy food?

Good Lord! This "concern" that Republicans might say bad things about is makes me sick. Grow some balls for Pete's Sake!

You are right about Obama, if he comes out on the wrong side of this, and its looking like he will, he'll be looking like just another politician. He did a radio add for one of the House Blue Dogs that forced the vote there. Barrow from Georgia. He's got a progressive challenger in their July 15 primary and Obama came of for the Blue Dog. That ain't a good sign.

[SEQUOIABISON]

08:06 AM on 06/25/2008

OBAMA/FEINGOLD

Risky but a dream ticket for me.

[wanked]

07:09 AM on 06/25/2008

Senator Dodd..we're proud of you and are glad you're our senator....the other guy---YUCK

[Whipsmart13]

08:16 AM on 06/25/2008

Hopefully Dodd will take this opportunity to discuss his "VIP" mortgage deal that saved him about $80K on his mortgage in a time when average folks are having problems just paying their mortgage due to high energy prices and "non" VIP mortgage deals. Does anyone think he will talk about this?

[HansB]

08:35 AM on 06/25/2008

Yeah, he's going to talk about his personal mortgage when the issue is the 4th amendment. Of course he is. What else can he do? He has to talk about his mortgage all the time, no matter what the topic.

[UpstateNY]

03:00 PM on 06/26/2008

I'm pretty sure that you would have taken a "VIP" mortgage if you could have gotten one - no one has actually said that it was illegal or that he voted differently because of it.

[drblack]

06:40 AM on 06/25/2008

Feingold is great and Dodd is as well. Two American Patriots.
ANY Public Servant who wants to destroy Freedom will be voted out of office.
Progressives are on along term quest to kick out the Freedom killers from governmnet.

[mi]

06:35 AM on 06/25/2008

These two senators deserve our gratitude and respect.
Obama's support of this bill is disturbing.

[111]

07:37 AM on 06/25/2008

Agreed -

Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party Candidate, is looking better and better all the time. She is partnering with Cindy Sheehan to rid us of Pelosi.

I hate this.

[research]

03:58 AM on 06/25/2008

Pelosi and Ried should NEVER HAVE SCHEDULED THIS BILL.

The rethugs did it all the time.

The rethugs are STILL getting their agenda passed?!?!?!??!

with impeachment off the table, BushCo is completely out of control.

Apparently Pelosi and Reids LOVE THE IRAQ WAR CRIME

AND WANT WORLD WAR IRAN.

[BARRISTER]

05:34 AM on 06/25/2008

May God bless Dodd and Feingold always, and Reid this time.

[GingerB]

03:39 AM on 06/25/2008

THIS is what a patriot does:

Senator Dodd Speaks in Opposition to FISA Bill on Floor of U.S. Senate (video and text)

http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/4476