My return email from Mark Dayton re: wiretaps

[KitchenWitch]

January 9, 2006

Name and address deleted for privacy

Dear Ms. KitchenWitch:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the National Security Agency's
(NSA) domestic surveillance program.

Congress has historically tried to strike a balance between protecting
our country and ensuring the rights of law-abiding Americans. In 1978,
Congress passed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to
provide for the use of domestic electronic surveillance in the context of
foreign intelligence gathering. Additionally, the law created the FISA
courts, which would review and authorize warrant applications for the
wiretapping of suspected terrorists.

It was deeply troubling to read in The New York Times that shortly after
the 9/11 tragedy, President Bush authorized the NSA, without seeking
warrants from the FISA courts, to eavesdrop on international phone calls
and obtain access to E-mails of American citizens. The Administration
contends that it has the authority to conduct domestic spying without
warrants and that these actions have been reviewed periodically by White
House and Department of Justice lawyers.

Congress has a duty to investigate and hold hearings on this disturbing
report. I was pleased that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the
Judiciary, Senator Arlen Specter, has committed to holding hearings on the
NSA's domestic spying activities. I look forward to the information that
will emerge during these hearings.

Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. Please do not hesitate
to contact me again, if you have any other comments or concerns.

My best regards.

Sincerely,


Mark Dayton
United States Senator

[MsAnthropy]

1. I wish he'd run again

[KitchenWitch]

3. Me too!

x(

[LaraMN]

2. Someone from his office called me & left a lengthy message on my vm.

I was surprised anyone would take that much time to respond to a little ol' email. Maybe they noted that I've emailed Dayton a brazillion times in the past couple years. :rofl: Regardless, it's nice to be acknowledged. I hope he stands his ground on what he details in that email response!:patriot: