Dear Senator Feinstein:
I write to you today to express my concerns, and the concerns of the members of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, regarding the FISA/telecom immunity bill that has passed the House of Representatives and is now in the US Senate. While we applaud your past attempts to work across the aisle with Senator Specter on a compromise bill, we urge you not to support any form of immunity for telecom companies who were complicit in the Bush Administration's warrant-less wiretapping scheme.
LACDP members believe that the Congressional leadership has struck a deal that will further erode our civil liberties and circumvent the original FISA law. We ask that you not only oppose this new FISA/telecom immunity bill, but that you filibuster it to prevent its advancement in the US Senate.
Letting telecom companies off the hook violates our fundamental notions of privacy and justice - not to mention violating the protections of the US Constitution. These companies clearly violated the rights of individuals under federal law. To exculpate these corporations now, who were complicit with the Bush Administration in its transgressions, leaves countless scores of people with their rights violated and no legal recourse.
Including immunity in the FISA bill sets a terrible precedent. It sends a message to companies everywhere that they may trample rights of individuals at the behest of the government without recourse. Such an arrangement allows corporations to become de facto arms of an outlaw administration, a dangerous expansion of powers in a time when checks on the executive are few. The only way to stop this arrangement is to hold companies accountable for their actions instead of granting immunity.
It is true that litigation against the telecom companies could potentially be severe in cost - but can we really put a price on preserving the US Constitution? Can we put a price on protecting individual privacy and checking limitless executive power? We think not, and for those reasons we ask not only for your opposition to the House bill, but your leadership in conducting a filibuster to block passage of this dangerous and erosive legislation.
Most Sincerely,
Eric C. Bauman
Chair, Los Angeles County Democratic Party
