Posted by Samantha Pohl, Legislative Assistant

With over 99 percent of the votes counted, the much-anticipated Israeli elections have come to an end.  Kadima has been declared the winning party. Although the final results are not yet determined, Kadima gained approximately 28 seats in the Knesset and Labor followed close behind, gaining about 20 seats. Tuesday evening’s polls showed Yisrael Beiteinu as securing a solid third place position with about 12-14 seats. Yet today’s polls show Shas, with about 13 seats, having surpassed Yisrael Beiteinu, which ended up with about 11 seats. In a surprising turn of events, the relatively unknown Pensioners' Party, whose platform deals entirely with advancing the rights of the elderly, gained approximately 7 seats.

By far, the biggest upset of the elections was the lack of participation among Israelis in the election. Yesterday’s election did not have the lowest voter turnout ever. In 2001, only 62.3 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the direct election for Prime Minister. However, the voter turnout for yesterday's election was about 63 percent, the lowest in Israeli history for a Knesset election. To compare, the 2003 elections to the 16th Knesset, voter turnout was about 68 percent. In a conversation I had yesterday with a friend and colleague, we discussed the low voter turn-out. I attributed it to a sense of apathy. Israelis knew Kadima would win, so there was little need or desire for Israelis to come out and vote one way or the other. However, in a conference call I listen in to yesterday afternoon, Dr. Kenneth Stein, the William E. Schatten Professor of Contemporary Middle Eastern History and Israeli Studies, attributed the disappointing letdown of democracy in Israel to something other than apathy. He argued that there were no major issues on which Israelis were disagreeing. There was a general notion of separation- they did not feel any international threat to Israel, nor have they felt the consequences of Iran or Hamas. Perhaps then, this is why the campaign scare tactics of Likud spearheaded by Benjamin Netanyahu backfired so significantly.

Regardless of this upset of Israeli voter-turn out, these elections mark an historic moment in the roller-coaster series of events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this past year. If you are interested in learning more about the ins and outs of the Israeli election process as well as prospects for Israel’s future in light of the elections, tune in to our podcast.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 Posted by Sarah Burrows, Legislative Assistant

The Washington Post published an interesting story last week about where federal grant money has been going since President Bush took office in 2000, including a significant amount of money that is now funding anti-abortion and pregnancy crisis centers. According to the article, the administration’s Faith and Community Based Initiative have been working to widen the “pool” of applicants for federal grants. For example, faith-based organizations are now being encouraged to apply for funding to house programs such as Head State and subsidized housing programs. Interestingly, there is currently pressure in Congress to allow for religious discrimination in federally funded programs housed in religious institutions. A faith-based organization that receives federal funding to run Head Start would be allowed to hire only people of the same faith if this legislation is passed.

Enjoy the complete article.

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 Posted by Liz Kaplan, Legislative Assistant

About a month ago, it was hard to imagine that a positive immigration reform bill  like the one that was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday evening would have ever made it to the Senate floor. Now, due in large part to the hundreds of thousands of constituents who raised their voices directly to their Senators through lobby visits, calls, emails or letters, and through the recent demonstrations, there is considerable energy behind a bi-partisan bill that includes a guest worker program for foreign workers as well as a program of earned legalization for the roughly 12 million undocumented workers currently in the U.S. And it does not include the criminalization of undocumented immigrants and (at least in theory) of honest individuals who assist undocumented immigrants in simple ways such as providing medical care or counseling. The American Immigration Lawyers Association, a strong supporter of earned legalization, has a done a more detailed summary of the legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) had instructed the Judiciary Committee that if they did not finish work on an immigration reform bill by Monday he would bring his own, enforcement only bill to the Senate floor. Now it is unclear how he will proceed, since Republicans are not unified on this issue (four Republicans on the Judiciary Committee joined all eight panel Democrats in voting to pass the legislation yesterday). Whatever bill is ultimately passed by the full Senate will have to be conferenced with a much harsher bill  that passed the House last December.

Whatever happens next, the success of the last few weeks is a true testament to the power of advocacy, in which the faith community has played a major role. To see the diversity of religious leaders and groups involved in this issue, check out the Interfaith Statement on Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 Posted by Samantha Pohl, Legislative Assistant

Yesterday, RAC staff and I attended a lunchtime lecture with Gershom Gorenberg, a prolific historian, to discuss his new book, The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements. In his talk, Gorenberg highlighted how the settlement movement in Israel emerged following the Six Day War in 1967 and also projected how settlements will play a role in the future of the peace process. Some interesting topics were fleshed out in the conversation. Gorenberg noted that the issue of settlements was of prime interest to people across the political and religious spectrum in Israel. Labor Zionists, who desired the continuation of the kibbutz movement, Religious Zionists, who had found a biblical connection to the land, and even an ultra Orthodox population, who with large families, wanted cheap prices for housing, each found a home in the settlements. A fascinating story Gorenberg told was how, although civilian settlements were forbidden from being established on the military occupied territory, settlers found a loophole, staying on the land at “fake” military sites which were permissible under the Geneva Accords. Gorenberg also discussed America’s lack of involvement in the settlement movement. Although the United States ardently opposed the settlement construction, it was “distracted” from advocating against the issue due to America’s concerns in Vietnam during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It can be argued that America is still “distracted” from the settlement issue. All in all, this was an excellent presentation of the historical background of the settlement movement which helped prepare participants for the upcoming Israeli elections. I am eager to read Gorenberg’s book, and I urge you to, as well.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 Posted by David Morrill Schlitt, Legislative Assistant

Tired of all the upbeat stories in the news? Optimism getting you down? Well, you’re in luck! The last few weeks have seen a bumper-crop of positively gloomy stories with regard to new developments in the ongoing global warming crisis.

The March 24th New York Times reports on a number of new studies that suggest that sea-levels are already on the rise, and any changes in sea-level due to climate change will likely be irreversible. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has melted an ice cube and then sat stunned as the ice cube failed to refreeze itself of its own accord, but the study is harrowing, nonetheless. A lead author of one of the studies, Jonathan Overpeck, was quoted as saying: "If we don't like the idea of flooding out New Orleans, major portions of South Florida, and many other valued parts of the coastal U.S. we will have to commit soon to a major effort to stop most emissions of carbon to the atmosphere."

A recent New York Times Book Review article echoes Dr. Overpeck’s concerns., In the review, New York Times science writer Carl Zimmer reviews “The Weather Makers,” by Tim Flannery, and “Field Notes From a Catastrophe,” by New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert. Both books offer a long view of climate change, and both chronicle current challenges and prospects for civilizational collapse.

Zimmer asserts that these “passionate, well-researched books” could not have come at a more important time. Dealing with climate change, writes Zimmer, is a “ complex political puzzle, and there may not be much time to decide how to act. Some leading climate scientists warn that we might be as few as 20 years away from a ‘tipping point,’ after which it will be too late to reverse catastrophic change.”

In the scientific community, there is a clear consensus forming: we need to change both government policy and our personal consumption habits if this world is to remain inhabitable for our descendents. Unfortunately, the month’s other major climate change news indicates that no such change is forthcoming—at least, not from Congressional leadership.

On March 6th, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM) said that no climate change legislation will be coming out of his committee this year. According to Congressional Quarterly, when asked about legislation that could effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he responded "Frankly, I don't know how to write it, and I don't think anybody does." Tell that to Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Lieberman (D-CT), who last year reintroduced their Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act (S. 1151), which sets up a market-based system for reducing emissions and is widely regarded as a reasonable first step toward slowing the effects of climate change. As of March 6 th, it looks like their bill might be languishing in committee for the foreseeable future. But, really, who would you trust with your energy policy? A bunch of nerdy scientists, with their sinus infections and graphing calculators? Or the one-time pitcher for the Albuquerque Dukes, minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers??

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 Posted by Liz Kaplan, Legislative Assistant

Comprehensive immigration reform advocates took a moment to celebrate last week. Despite Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s (R-TN) decision to introduce a harsh, enforcement-only bill to be voted on by the Senate during the week of March 27, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee led by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) are working hard to compromise on an alternative bill that will allow undocumented immigrants the opportunity to earn legal status. An article from Reuters explains the events and issues at stake pretty well: “Senators near compromise on immigration.”

This positive development reflects true bi-partisan compromise and hard work on the part of a broad coalition that has included immigration advocates, religious groups, labor organizations, and members of the business community (even the U.S. Chamber of Commerce). This work will continue as we look forward to the final Senate Judiciary Committee vote and to the full Senate’s action later in the month.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 Posted by Jason Kleinman, Legislative Assistant

Last week, the African Union’s (AU) Peace and Security Council met to decide whether or not the AU would ask the United Nations to takeover the peacekeeping efforts in Darfur, Sudan. Unfortunately, the AU, following the Sudanese government’s demands, decided to wait at least another six months before asking the international community to take control of the region. Without UN intervention, the situation in Darfur will only continue to worsen because the AU lacks the resources needed to stop the genocide. They have an insufficient number of troops and equipment, and they still have no mandate to protect civilians or humanitarian operations.

As the genocide in Darfur continues and the international community remains silent, we must focus on what we, as individuals, can do to help end this humanitarian crisis. The greatest thing that each one of us can do is to learn about what is happening in Darfur and share it with others. The more awareness that we are able to create surrounding this issue, the more our government and the international community will feel pressured to act.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, who has been following this issue very closely, just returned from another trip to the region. He wrote a very descriptive article in Sunday’s paper about the village of Koloy, and how its people could do nothing but literally wait for the janjaweed to come destroy the village, rape the women, and kill the men. There is nobody they can turn to for help.

Kristof also videotaped some his interactions with members of the Koloy village. His footage is very powerful.

Ann Curry of the Today Show also joined Kristof on this trip. She will be reporting on her experiences throughout the week. Read her blog and watch a slideshow of the powerful pictures she took on her trip.

We must learn more about this issue and continue to share it with others. The Save Darfur Coalition, of which the Reform Movement is a member, is organizing a rally in Washington, DC on April 30 to raise awareness about this genocide. Register and learn more about the rally. If we continue to apply pressure, we may soon receive the aid and support that is needed to end this crisis.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This Originally Appeared in PRISM ePistle

IT’S HARD OUT THERE FOR THE PIMPED
by Michael Horowitz and Daniel Gibson

( EDITOR’S NOTE: Ten days ago the honor for “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures” at the Oscars was awarded to Three 6 Mafia for the song “It’s Hard Out There for a Pimp.” )

Many of us were not surprised - pimp culture has been glamorized by Hollywood for years. But let us not be too world-weary to articulate our outrage at being invited to sympathize with the lot of pimps when women and children around the world are dying under their employ.

What follows is an excellent critique of Hollywood's idealized notion of pimping, a critique that allows reality – the facts, as expressed by survivors and experts – to speak for themselves. Our deepest thanks go to Michael Horowitz and Daniel Gibson of the Hudson Institute for putting this together and for allowing us to publish it here. If these two men have their way, pimps in America will find it really is “hard out there for a pimp!”)

You know it’s hard out here for a pimp
When he tryin’ to get his money for the rent
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent
Because a whole lot of bitches talking s--t.
(chorus) 

On an average night, they have sex with 10-15 people and have to meet a quota which is usually $500-1,000 a night.  The young girls and women never keep their money.  The pimp was making…between her and other women … about $642,000 a year, tax-free.
— Tina Frundt, testimony before Congress, April 29, 2005

Man, these girls think we prove thangs, leave a big head
They come hopin’ every night, they don’t end up bein’ dead
(verse 2)

And then of course, after we crossed the line, our worlds changed forever.  ALL of us had friends who didn’t make it out alive.
— Survivor Services, Education and Empowerment Network (SSEEN) letter to Congress, August 1, 2005

In my eyes I done seen some crazy thangs in the streets
Gotta couple hoes workin’ on the changes for me
(verse 1)

In the Hispanic brothels, girls — and by that I mean children — are expected to “service” a different man every fifteen minutes, from 30 to as many as 55 “customers” per day.  After a few weeks of this unimaginable regime, the human brain begins to permanently dissociate from reality as a sheer survival mechanism.  The scarring is such that only a small proportion of these victims are ever able to return to a semblance of a normal life.
— Bradley Myles, National Program Coordinator, Polaris Project, a D.C.-based anti-trafficking NGO

Wait I got a snow bunny, and a black girl too
You pay the right price and they’ll both do you
(verse 2)

[P]imps and madams [sold] us to johns who intended violent acts as long as the purchasers paid extra.  After all, we were only viewed as commodities and worst of all, we believed it.”
— SSEEN letter to Congress, August 1, 2005

It’s blood sweat and tears when it come down to this s--t
I’m trying to get rich ‘fore I leave up out this bitch
(verse 1)

Eighty percent of the women were sexually assaulted by pimps via sadistic sex; 71% of pimps use drugs to control the women; and 34% of the women received death threats from pimps personally or to their family.
— Raymond, Hughes, Gomez, “Sex Trafficking In the United States, Coalition Against Trafficking of Women Study,” March 2001

Sixty-eight percent of girls entered prostitution before age 16.
— Silbert and Pines “Entrance into Prostitution,” YOUTH AND SOCIETY 1982 (San Fransisco)

Forty-six percent of women in prostitution attempted suicide.
— Parriot, “Health of Twin Cities Women in Prostitution,” May 1994

The mortality rate of women in prostitution, adjusted for age and race, is more than 200 times greater than the population at large.
— Potterat, Brewer “Mortality in a Long-term Open Cohort of Prostituted Women,” AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, 2004. ( Colorado)

(Oscar ceremony commentary)
You know what?  I think it just got a little easier out here for a pimp.
— Jon Stewart, host of the Academy Awards, March 5, 2006

The war against pimps and trafficking mafias brings us face to face with the slavery issue of our time.  Both internationally and within the United States great progress has been made during the past few years thanks to the leadership of feminist and church leaders, the President, Congress, and inner-city leaders who have witnessed the tragic influence of pimp culture on the values of all of their young people.  In a few short years, we will no more glorify pimps than we do Simon Legree.
— Ambassador John Miller, Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, United States Department of State

Be sure also to read Courtland Milloy’ excellent column for the WASHINGTON POST (3.8.06), “ Pimp Pop Culture Brushes Aside Girls' Fate.”

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 Posted by Mark J. Pelavin, Associate Director

By now, we have all seen the horrifying pictures of detainees being abused at Abu Ghraid prison in Baghdad. But this week, as the United States prepares to close that now-infamous facility, and as a major new U.S. military offensive is underway, it is an appropriate time to take a new, honest, look at those abuses. The internet magazine Salon.com has done a consistently powerful job of covering this story. An index of their Abu Ghraib coverage is available.

This week they posted an archive of 279 photos and 19 videos of Abu Ghraid abuse first gathered by the Army's Criminal Investigation Command (CID) along with information drawn from the CID's own timeline of the events depicted. Salon acquired extensive documentation of the CID investigation -- including this photo archive and timeline -- from a military source who spent time at Abu Ghraid and who is familiar with the Army probe. I urge you to read it.

The material is hard to look at it, and hard to read. And that makes it all the more important to do so. The danger of forgetting is all too real.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It was a beautiful, warm day in Washington as hundreds of people of different faiths gathered in front of the Capitol for an Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Peace in Iraq, “Blessed are the Peacemakers.”

The event was part of the culmination of Ecumenical Advocacy Days, a weekend-long conference on religion and activism sponsored by over 40 different faith-based organizations and ending with lobby day at the Capitol. Although the rest of the conference was primarily rooted in Christian themes, the Union for Reform Judaism, The Interfaith Alliance, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and the National Sikh Gurdwara joined in the prayer service, which conveyed the need for unity in our efforts to pursue peace in Iraq and throughout the world. Rabbi Scott Sperling, Director of the Union’s Mid-Atlantic Council, offered words of welcome as well as an adapted reading from The Gates of Prayer.

Among the highlights of the service was when Reverend John McCullough, Director of Church World Service, shared the following words by American poet Langston Hughes:

I dream a world where man
No other man will scorn,
Where love will bless the earth
And peace its paths adorn.
I dream a world where all
Will know sweet freedom's way,
Where greed no longer saps the soul
Nor avarice blights our day.
A world I dream where black or white,
Whatever race you be,
Will share the bounties of the earth
And every man is free,
Where wretchedness will hang its head
And joy, like a pearl,
Attends the needs of all mankind--
Of such I dream, my world!

[- The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, edited by Arnold Rampersad (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1994), p. 311 .]

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Naomi Greenspan, Program Associate of the Commission on Interreligious Affairs of Reform Judaism

The United States Institute of Peace has just published a fascinating new report on the American Muslim community: “The Diversity of Muslims in the United States: Views as Americans.”

As the American Muslim community (and communities) continue to grow, it is increasingly important to understand their viewpoints and concerns on such issues as terrorism, democracy, peacemaking, and human rights.

How do American Muslims reconcile American ideals of pluralism and political activism with Islamic values? What is the American Muslim community’s role in serving as a bridge between America and the Muslim world? What importance do American Muslims place on interfaith dialogue as a means of building relationships with other religious communities? What political, social, economic, and cultural contributions has the American Muslim community made to American society?

The report covers these topics and more. To view a summary of their finding go to the United States Institute of Peace.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Mark J. Pelavin, Associate Director

This week’s New Yorker has a fascinating, sobering, detailed examination of, as the author puts it, “the Bush Administration’s war on the laboratory.”  In his article, “Political Science,” reporter Michael Specter paints a comprehensive, and more than a little frightening, portrait of an Administration systematically devaluing science.  Although the article itself is not on line, there is an interesting "Q&A" with the author online. 

(In the same issue, Janet Malcolm’s take on Judicial confirmation hearings as “theatre,” is also well worth reading.)

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Samantha Pohl, Legislative Assistant

Two important developments occurred yesterday that are of incredible importance to the pro-choice community:  the release by the New York Times of a study on the effects of parental notification laws, and the signing into law of a ban on nearly all abortions in South Dakota.

First, the analysis of the study released by the New York Times in yesterday’s paper finds that laws that require minors to notify or get permission from their parents to have an abortion have not generated the decrease in teen abortion rates that advocates of the laws expected. Some key points were made in the article that I think are particularly thought-provoking. First, abortion rates have been dropping nationwide since the mid-1980s, specifically among teenagers. Second, the parental consent and parental notification laws had no real impact on the number of minors who got pregnant or who, once pregnant, chose to have an abortion. Workers and doctors in abortion clinics claim that the laws had little significance in the lives of teens; they more often noticed parents trying to convince, rather than prohibit, their daughters from proceeding with an abortion. Third, many teenagers report they never considered hiding their pregnancies or pregnancy plans from their mothers.

While this study can potentially be viewed as a gain for the pro-choice community, the South Dakota ban  represents an alarming setback. Governor Mike Rounds made a staggering choice by signing into law  a bill that makes it a crime for doctors, punishable by a $5,000 fine and five years in prison, to perform an abortion unless the procedure was deemed necessary to save the woman’s life. Making no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, this law is an insult to women who experience such terrible assaults on their physical, mental, and emotional health. The legislation has sweeping consequences that reach far beyond the physical borders of South Dakota; it directly attacks Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, and preys upon the reproductive health and freedoms of all women across the country. Governor Round’s decision to sign the bill signals the latest, and most frightening, in an onslaught of incremental efforts by state legislatures to dismantle Roe, and taking away the fundamental rights of women to make their own choices about their bodies. If this decision indicates where the fight for reproductive rights is headed, I am honestly scared at what this could mean for the future of our country.
 

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Sarah Burrows, Legislative Assistant

A few weeks ago, the RAC’s blog had a posting citing a study showing that in 2005, broadcasts networks’ evening newscasts covered the situation in Darfur for a total of 18 minutes. ABC's evening news program had 11 minutes about Darfur over the year, NBC's had 5 minutes, and CBS's found genocide worth only 2 minutes of airtime during the course of 2005.

Last night, I was flipping through the channels and stumbled across a preview for the new episode of ER airing later in the night. Something about the scene that was showing seemed oddly familiar. It depicted a refugee camp, men riding on horseback, and a victim of rape. The episode was entitled “ Darfur” and followed one of the characters as he traveled to a refugee camp in the violence stricken region to serve as a doctor for the people escaping genocide. The episode addressed many of the issues that exist in Darfur today. A child draws a picture of the Janjaweed attacking his family, a man is brutally beaten to death, a rape victim is shamed by her husband, and the people lack adequate food and drinking water.

I commend ER and it’s producers for tackling this important and widely ignored issue. In a single episode, a television show about doctors did more to raise awareness about the worst humanitarian crisis of our time then newscasts did in an entire year. Perhaps it is time for actual news shows to follow the lead of their fictional counterparts.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Emily Kane, Senior Legislative Assistant

Growing-up, we are regularly reminded to say thank you when thanks are due. Justice Alito has followed suit: on March 1st the Associated Press reported that Justice Alito sent a note (below) to religious right leader Dr. James Dobson, thanking Focus on the Family for its support throughout his nomination process.

Say whatever one might, the nicety could be dismissed, save but one line, “As long as I serve on the Supreme Court I will keep in mind the trust that has been placed in me.” If Justice Alito is referring to the trust of our country, it is one thing. If he is speaking to a more narrow audience of Focus on the Family members and those who share its views, that is a horse of a different color…
Here is the text of Justice Alito's letter to Dr. Dobson, which Dr. Dobson read on air:

Dear Dr. Dobson:
This is just a short note to express my heartfelt thanks to you
and the entire staff of Focus on the Family for your help and
support during the past few challenging months.

I would also greatly appreciate it if you would convey my
appreciation to the good people from all parts of the country who
wrote to tell me that they were praying for me and for my family
during this period.

As I said when I spoke at my formal investiture at the White
House last week, the prayers of so many people from around the
country were a palpable and powerful force.

As long as I serve on the Supreme Court I will keep in mind the
trust that has been placed in me.

I hope that we'll have the opportunity to meet personally at
some point in the future.

In the meantime my entire family and I hope that you and the
Focus on the Family staff know how we appreciate all that you have
done.

Sincerely yours,
Samuel Alito

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Liz Kaplan, Legislative Assistant

After so many hullabaloos last fall over the Patriot Act reauthorization process, including a bi-partisan effort to block the bill unless it included better civil liberties protections, it seemed to be with relatively little fanfare that the Senate voted 89-to-10 yesterday to renew the bill.

The legislation voted on yesterday does include some positive clarifications of some of the most controversial aspects of the Patriot Act (including Section 215 orders, National Security Letters, and the privacy of library records), as described by Senator John Sununu (R-NH), a key critic of the Patriot Act last fall. However, other civil liberties advocates, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI), the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act’s original passage in 2001, argued that this week’s compromise is a missed opportunity to truly address some of the law’s worst flaws. Yesterday’s vote virtually guaranteed the reauthorization bill’s passage, although there will be a final vote in the House next week.

In some ways, the final days of this debate have been the least exciting. Public policy die-hards could tune in to the debate on C- SPAN and mainstream media paid lip service to the final deals that had to be struck between the White House and GOP leaders in order to quell a few lingering concerns from December, but in general, concerns about the Patriot Act seem to have been vastly overshadowed this winter by the current focus on the National Security Agency’s warrant-less wiretapping and other security debates. Furthermore, as Senator Fiengold suggested in his final comments on the Senate floor, despite the fact that the Patriot Act reauthorization bill extends 14 provisions of the Act permanently and two more through 2009, civil liberties advocates do not seem to see this vote as the end of the national discussion of these issues. As a friend and passionate civil liberties buff told me after yesterday’s vote, “Now we need to regroup and think up new strategies for bringing about the changes we want to see. For example, check out the Security and Freedom Ensured Act (SAFE) Act of 2005, sponsored by Representative Butch Otter (R-ID), and other positive, bi-partisan legislation in support of civil liberties. This isn’t over.”

Posted by Religious Action Center at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)