PATRIOT Act: Wending its dreadful way back through Congress

The House of Representatives, which no one really bothers calling "The People's House" these days, nevertheless showed a rare remembrance last month of which country they're actually helping govern, when they voted to strip seizure of bookstore and library records from the expanded government powers created by the PATRIOT Act.

But the ACLU explains why what's remaining in the House version--which it describes as "flawed from the start"--isn't much to feel good about, if you care about civil liberties. This week the House passed their version of the Act by a 257-171 margin.

Thom Haslam at Shakespeare's Sister has this good roundup on why we shouldn't believe that the PATRIOT Act reauthorization is a done deal. The executive summary of his case: There's still the Senate version, which by most accounts is less dreadful than the House version. Those two versions have to get reconciled, in a process where there's much opportunity for mischief.

Democracy is not a spectator sport; take a few minutes to send a message to Senators Wyden and Smith (or whoever your Senator is) expressing your opposition to expanding the powers of the PATRIOT Act, and telling them you want its provisions to be brought back in line with the Constitution. Haslam gives the two basic talking points:

• Ask them to ensure that the 4th and 1st Amendments are not compromised.
  
• Ask them to endorse and strengthen the efforts by the Senate Judiciary committee to better protect civil liberties.

Oregon angle: Here's how the Representatives from Oregon voted on the House version:

David Wu (D) No
Greg Walden (R) Yes
Earl Blumenauer (D) No
Peter DeFazio (D) No
Darlene Hooley (D) No