Danny Davis voted with the majority of Congress on Thursday to extend the Patriot Act by another year, breaking with his two prior votes against the Act and violating his IVI-IPI survey response claiming that he supported repealing the law. The extension, which was part of the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, passed the House with a vote of 315 to 97 and will now go to be signed by President Obama (who has worked behind the scenes in support of it).
All told, this is yet another blow to Davis’ so-called “progressive” record and another indication that what he found unacceptable during the Bush years is suddenly very acceptable to him now.
Danny's Bad Calls, Freedom Issues, News Fourth Amendment, Patriot Act
In late November of last year, Congressman Davis indicated on his IVI-IPI survey that he supported repealing the Patriot Act.
Now, the date of the Patriot Act reauthorization vote is drawing near.
To his credit, Davis voted against the Act twice before (1, 2), but with Obama now in office, will he continue to hold the line?
You can give the congressman a bit of extra encouragement by sending him this pre-written message on the Patriot Act via the ACLU. The Campaign for Liberty has a similar petition directed at the Senate.
Update: the Senate voted on February 24 to extend the Patriot Act by one year. The ball now rolls into Congress and Danny Davis’ court.
Action Alerts, Freedom Issues Fourth Amendment, Patriot Act
H.R. 1800, the National Security Letters Reform Act of 2009, has been added to our new “Take Action” page.
Back when the original Patriot Act was introduced in the hysteria following the 9/11 attacks, Congressman Davis had the sense to vote against the bill, even while a majority of Democrats and Republicans voted in favor without even reading the proposed law.
Davis followed up this act by voting “nay” on the bill again when it was renewed in 2005. Whether it was the result of a simple opposition to Bush or a midnight séance with the ghost of Thomas Jefferson, Davis made the right call both times.
Now, with several parts of the Patriot Act already ruled illegal under the Constitution, Davis has a chance to help repair another unsavory element in this law — the National Security Letters provision that allows the government to “gag” individuals and businesses into silence about its warrantless surveillance.
Don’t let Davis’ past good judgment hinder you from calling in your support on this. Take a moment out of your day and phone his office at (202) 225-5006, and tell the intern, voicemail service, or night janitor who answers the phone to have Congressman Davis cosponsor H.R. 1800. Alternatively (but less effectively), you can send a pre-written email message on the topic to Davis here.
Either way, you’ll be doing your country a great service, and Thomas Jefferson (wherever he is) will thank you.
Action Alerts, Freedom Issues Fourth Amendment, Patriot Act
