Caroline Fredrickson
Caroline Fredrickson
act against both bush congress embraced extreme fix freedom happens hope ignored ignoring illegal innocent insist involved law matter nsa ordinary patriot philosophy power pressure privacy program protect protected reforms regardless resist restore result rights rule safe senators spy stops until white
Regardless of what happens with this agreement, Congress can, and must fix the Patriot Act to better protect the privacy and freedom of ordinary Americans. At the same time, until the Bush administration stops the illegal NSA program to spy on Americans and stops ignoring the rule of law, any reforms to the Patriot Act could be ignored under the extreme philosophy of power embraced by this president. No matter the result of the Patriot Act, we hope all senators involved in these negotiations will resist pressure from the administration. Congress must restore the rule of law and insist that innocent Americans' rights be protected against the overreaching of the White House. We can, and must, be both safe and free.
admitted average balances checks disregard essential forget held house oaths power protect repeatedly rights white
Lawmakers must not forget their oaths and disregard the administration's infringement of average Americans' constitutional rights. The White House has repeatedly admitted to the use of warrant-less wiretaps and has yet to be held accountable. Checks and balances on presidential power are essential to protect the rights of Americans.
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We must protect women's access to the full range of reproductive health services. The 'Freedom of Choice Act' puts women's health and not politics first. Lawmakers should adopt this much-needed proposal.
act adopt america applaud bring civil congress continue debate failed far fight fought freedom government house include law line patriot pressure protect push reforms rejected safe white
The Patriot Act debate is far from over, and we will continue to fight for reforms to protect civil liberties. While Congress failed to adopt much-needed reforms to the law to better protect freedom and privacy, lawmakers also rejected pressure from the White House to include significant and unwarranted expansions of government power. We applaud those fair-minded lawmakers that have fought to bring the law in line with the Constitution, and together, we will continue to push for reforms to keep America safe and free.
act bill changes common connected continue correct library needed patriot powers press problems proposed protect record records reforms remain require required search secret serious sought suspected suspicion terrorist
Serious problems remain in the Patriot Act that require serious reforms. Unfortunately, the proposed changes to the reauthorization bill do not correct the secret record search powers and do not require that there be any individualized suspicion of wrongdoing by Americans before their financial, medical, library or other records can be searched. Common sense reforms could have required that records sought be connected to a suspected terrorist or terrorist organization. We will continue to press for these and other needed reforms to protect American freedoms.
access adopt against citizen continue democracy deny efforts ensure equal essential exercise foundation heard help local necessary practices procedures protection rights state voice vote voting
The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, and an essential protection of that right is the Voting Rights Act. Every voice must be heard and every vote must be counted. State and local governments continue to adopt voting laws, practices and procedures that deny equal access to voting - without the Voting Rights Act, there would be little protection against these efforts to deny some of us our right to vote. The Voting Rights Act is necessary to help ensure that every American citizen is able to exercise the franchise.
constitution exists protect undermine
The Constitution exists to protect rights, not undermine them.
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This sham compromise agreement fails to address the primary substantive concern raised by millions of Americans, as well as civil liberties, privacy and business organizations and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and in both chambers.
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Too much of the debate over immigration reform has ignored one of the greatest threats to our privacy. The proposed employer verification system would require Americans, regardless of citizenship, to get a 'permission slip to work' from the government. If Congress wants to reform immigration, then it should, but it shouldn't use this legislation as a clandestine means to subvert our constitutional right to privacy.
court fbi hands oversight past people power resides tells
This tells us why they didn't want to tell us in the past how many of these they were actually using. The idea that this kind of power resides in the hands of so many people at the FBI with no court oversight is very troubling.
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Today, more than ever, we cannot take our right to reproductive freedom for granted. Anti-choice forces are moving full steam ahead to not only take away a woman's right to choose an abortion but to limit access to birth control and other important reproductive health care.
leeway people role supportive
We've been supportive of this concept, but the administration has got to give these people more leeway to play the role that's been pitched. I don't think they can do that under the circumstances.
concerned far general possible trend
We're concerned because it's part of a general trend in this administration. Far as we know, it's possible that they are like many other Americans - being spied on.
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I think one of the fundamental roles of Congress is to exercise oversight of the executive branch. And it's not happening.