Senator Jeff Bingaman's Views On FISA Bill

I sent a request to Senator Bingaman's Office to give his views on a few issues before the U.S. Senate lately and here is what he had to say about the FISA Bill that just passed the Senate. I can see why some people would think that he would make a good vice-president; nevertheless, I get the feeling that he likes being a U.S. Senator for New Mexico. We here in New Mexico are very proud of him.

"With regard to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), as you know, the Senate is discussing changes to this legislation. When the Senate passed the PAA, I voted against it because I did not believe that it adequately protects the rights of Americans whose communications may be inappropriately included in the broad scope of this legislation. I am encouraged that this legislation is currently being revised to give greater priority to civil liberties. However, I am also concerned that these revisions do not go far enough in protecting the rights of Americans. I am also opposed to the provision in the legislation that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunication companies that participated in the President's warrantless wiretapping program. To this end, I voted for the version of the bill reported out of the Judiciary Committee, which has greater protections and does not include the immunity provision, and against the version of the bill that the Senate ultimately passed. Unfortunately, the telecom immunity provision was included in the final version that passed the Senate. Before being sent to the President the legislation still needs to be agreed to by the House of Representatives.

At a time when the President has asserted vast powers with regard to indefinitely detaining U.S. citizens without charges, conducting warrantless domestic surveillance, and using interrogation techniques that amount to torture, it is essential that we also recognize the dangers of unrestrained Executive authority. We must not surrender the rights we cherish in the name of national security."

I could not agree more with the Senator's views on this issue and I think that New Mexicans now know why they voted for the Senator who was one of the few that voted against the war from the very start.