My Congressman ROCKS!!

[MsKandice01]

I recently sent him an e-mail regarding the NSA wiretaps to let him know that I believe a full investigation should be top priority. He also addressed every single point I raised in my letter, which means he actually read it. I love this man!! Here's what he had to say.

Dear Candice:

Thank you for writing to me in support of my work in Congress. I appreciate hearing from the people I represent, and I am glad to hear that you support my voting record.

As the Representative for the people of the 15th Congressional District of California, I work hard to represents the views and beliefs of my constituency. I am pleased to hear that you support the progressive legislation that I have advocated for since being elected in 2000. I will continue fighting for the people of our district and for the causes which we both support.

I also appreciate your comments regarding President Bush's warrantless use of wiretaps to spy on innocent American citizens. In December 2005, it was reported that President Bush signed a directive in 2002 authorizing the National Security Agency (NSA) to listen to conversations between American citizens, as well as foreign nationals in the United States, without seeking prior approval as required by law. The President’s decision is deeply troubling as it appears to violate constitutional protections and undermines the Foreign Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978, which already allows the government to use electronic surveillance to acquire information to disrupt and prevent threats to the United States. There is simply no reason for the President to assert more power than he already posesses. In fact, the standard of proof required for issuance of a surveillance or physical search order from the FISA Court is already low, and it allows the President to authorize electronic surveillance for up to one year without a court order if certain conditions can be met. In urgent situations, the National Security Agency can listen to international telephone calls for 72 hours before being required to seek retroactive permission from the court, ensuring that the law does not create any delays. Furthermore, over the last six years, the court has approved virtually all warrant requests from the government, making the President’s directive hard to justify.

On December 18th, 2005, I signed on to a letter drafted by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, demanding that the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and the Government Accountability Office investigate the legality of the NSA program. I, and many of my colleagues in the House of Representatives, will not be satisfied until complete and thorough investigations take place in this matter.

A recent report from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service found that “President Bush probably cannot claim the broad presidential powers he has relied upon as authority to order the secret monitoring of calls made by U.S. citizens since the fall of 2001.” I am greatly concerned that the surveillance program authorized by the President was carried out without Congressional approval or court oversight, and appears to have violated existing law. While the President has the duty to protect the nation by gathering timely intelligence, I believe that it is illegal for him to authorize warrantless spying on potentially hundreds or more innocent Americans. If the President needs additional wiretapping authorities to protect the nation, he should submit language to Congress requesting these powers.

Our Constitution is not tested during times of tranquility, it is put to the test during times of crisis. As a Japanese American, I know first hand what can happen when civil liberties are suspended in the name of national security. Just as rounding up Japanese Americans during WWII without due process was wrong, so too is our government's current warrantless eavesdropping on citizens who have not been accused of any wrong doing. These actions are not only of questionable constitutionality, they also waste valuable government resources chasing false leads. Ultimately, we are made less, not more, safe by the government's actions.

Please rest assured that I will work to make sure that President Bush's violations are investigated and questions about his unwarranted actions are answered. Once again, thank you for contacting me about this serious breach of civil liberties. Your views help shape the way I represent our district, and I count on hearing them.

Sincerely,
Mike Honda
Member of Congress

[channa18]

1. I should have a Rep. like that.

great PERSONAL letter.

[The Witch]

2. "his unwarranted actions..."

Oh, that Congressman of yours is SUCH a punster! :rofl:

Seriously, though, what an excellent and confidence-inspiring reply. There are some seriously good people out there! :patriot:

[Stockholm]

3. Now that is a representative

K&R

[BR_Parkway]

4. Awesome reply - I get Dole, Burr and Foxx - like any of them would

stray off the plantation (yes, I used the p word)

First time I've seen anything about them being allowed to to authorize electronic surveillance for up to one year without a court order if certain conditions can be met.

I didn't see the 72 hours after the fact as being too big a burden, but how could they justify not going back to the court if they might have had up to a year to do so? So obviously, spying for political purposes - why can't the sheeple pull their wooly heads out of their asses and see it for themselves?

on edit:

I forwarded on your Rep's reply to all of my NeoCon office holders with a note that this is how an actual representative of the people in their district should be responded to - not with cut and paste RW talking points all the time. We could elect a robot in their place if that's all we wanted.