Sen. Kennedy could vote today on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. The new version is so bad that several Senators are talking about blocking it and this could be our last chance. Can you call him and tell him you oppose the new PATRIOT Act?

Senator Edward Kennedy Phone: 202-224-4543

I called Congress
http://political.moveon.org/call?tg=FSMA_1&cp_id=146&id=6381-1485063-wQwMojAs6UtD8ze.qKqdCQ&t=1

After months of negotiations, the Senate could vote on reauthorizing the USA PATRIOT Act today­and you can help block it. The version they're voting on goes even further than the original PATRIOT Act in some places and does not include many needed reforms.

Several senators have expressed concern about the new PATRIOT Act and some, like Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John Sununu (R-NH), are even talking about blocking it with a filibuster.1 This could be our last chance to stop the new and unimproved PATRIOT Act. Your calls at this critical moment could make all the difference. Can you call Sen. Kennedy and tell him that you oppose the PATRIOT Act?

Senator Edward Kennedy Phone: 202-224-4543

Then, please let us know you called by reporting your call here:

http://political.moveon.org/call?tg=FSMA_1&cp_id=146&id=6381-1485063-wQwMojAs6UtD8ze.qKqdCQ&t=2

Reporting your call will help make this action more effective­this way we can track who's feeling the heat.

The new PATRIOT Act does nothing about some of the biggest problems in the law.2

* The government still isn't required to show a connection between you and a suspected terrorist before they can go through your private records, like medical, library, school, and other records.
* The government is allowed to get "sneak and peek" search warrants from courts to search your home or business and not tell you about it for a month or even much longer. They can do this even in cases having nothing to do with terrorism.

Americans of all political stripes have expressed concern and outrage over the invasive powers in the PATRIOT Act­but some in Congress refuse to listen.

Now that several leaders in Washington have expressed concern over the new draft of the PATRIOT Act, we may actually be able to block it. But they need to hear from you. Your call could make a big difference.

Senator Edward Kennedy Phone: 202-224-4543

Thanks for all you do,

–Eli, Nita, Tom, Justin and the Moveon.org Political Action Team Friday, November 18th, 2005


For more information on the PATRIOT Act please visit the ACLU website:

ACLU talking points on conference draft of legislation: http://www.aclu.org/patriotdraft

Main Patriot Act page: http://www.reformthepatriotact.org Sources:

1. "Patriot Act Filibuster Threatened," San Francisco Chronicle, November 18, 2005
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1168

2. "Senators Threaten to Hold Up Patriot Act," Washington Post, November 17, 2005
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1169


Informant: Martin Greenhut