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| Wisconsin Greens Say 'Aye' to Civil Liberties, 'No' to Bush Administration's and Republicans' Abridgement of Rights. |
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Wisconsin Green Party July 9, 2004 Jill Bussiere, Co-spokesperson, Wisconsin Green
Party, Media Committee The Wisconsin Green Party notes that the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has again succeeded in derailing democracy and abridging civil liberties. An amendment to the Patriot Act HR4754, introduced by Bernie Sanders, (Independent) from Vermont, was defeated in the House. It would have ended the ability of the federal government to get court orders to demand the reading records of any American from libraries in the United States. The Patriot Act, as it stands now, allows such demands by the federal government. "The amendment was supported by progressives such as John Conyers and Bernie Sanders, as well as conservatives like Butch Otter and Ron Paul," said Ruth Weill, WiGP Council member from the 4th Congressional District. "Protection of civil liberties is an issue where conservatives and progressives are on the same page. And for the most part, our Wisconsin delegation voted to support civil liberties. Mark Green, however, whose role in Congress is to deliver the votes as the Bush administration desires, voted to continue the abridgement of our civil liberties." Congresspeople Baldwin (D), Kind (D), Kleczka (D), Obey (D), and Petri (R) all voted for the change. But Congressmen Ryan (R), Green (R), and Sensenbrenner (R), all voted to allow readers' records to continue to be searched by the federal government. "We stand with the American Library Association's resolution that calls for an amendment to or change of 'the sections of these laws and the guidelines that threaten or abridge the rights of inquiry and free expression', said Tony Palmeri, Wisconsin Green Party candidate for the 54th Assembly District. "Sander's amendment would have done that." "This part of the Patriot Act has nothing to do with our nation's security," said Jill Bussiere, WGP Co-spokesperson. "This administration is big on having access to citizens' private information, but has put a wall up against citizens' access to information about our government. Open government is absolutely crucial in a democracy. It is one of the checks and balances necessary to make sure that those in power are serving this nation's citizens, rather than monied interests. Time after time this administration has opted for secrecy, when openness would have better served the public interest and our security." Initially the amendment would have passed if the Republican leadership had ended the vote at the agreed upon time of 17 minutes. At that point, 30 Republicans had voted in favor of restoring civil liberties. However, the vote was kept open while the leadership put various pressures on party members to change their votes. They were successful, and thus the amendment was defeated, 210 to 210. This is a standard tactic for the majority power, whether it be Democratic or Republican. The Wisconsin Green Party stands on the four pillars of Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, and Nonviolence. For more information: |
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