U.S. House Votes Adopts Flawed Patriot Act Bill:

Measure Fails to Restore Proper Checks and Balances



It is Time to "Thank" or "Spank" Your Representative in Congress



July 25, 2005

As you probably have heard by now, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives (257-171) voted late last Thursday evening to reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act. We need you to contact your Representative in the Congress and either "thank" them for standing up for American constitutional values or "spank" them for supporting the flawed measure approved by the House.



The measure adopted on Thursday night failed to place the appropriate checks and balances on the ability of law enforcement to intrude upon the lives of persons in the United States. The result was almost predictable - after House leadership pushed forward rules that prohibited House members from considering important amendments that would have protected constitutional values. House leadership would not even consider a proposal to limit FBI access library and bookstore records under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act. - legislation approved by a significant majority of the House earlier this Summer - even while allowing an amendment that would protect "smokeless tobacco" under the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act.



We urge you to reach out to your representative in Congress and either thank them for opposing this flawed bill - or "spank" them for failing to stand up for basic constitutional freedoms by supporting the measure. You can find the telephone numbers for your Representative in the House by going to http://www.house.gov. (The site also allows you to identify your member based on your address, if you do not know for certain.) Please let us know when you make these calls by sending an email. Thanks for your support.



Breakdown of votes from the Illinois Delegation:



Supporting Constitutional Values and voting NO: Jerry Costello, Danny Davis, Lane Evans, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Tim Johnson, Ray LaHood, Don Manzullo, Bobby Rush and Jan Schakowsky



Those voting to reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act: Melissa Bean, Judy Biggert, Rahm Emanuel, Dennis Hastert, Henry Hyde, Mark Kirk, Daniel Lipinski, John Shimkus, and Jerry Weller



Please call your Member of Congress about this critically important issue!