Just change it! Like those darn Bush Republicans and some Democrats are trying to do today. But the constitution clearly does NOT allow this sort of fudging of the law—this is an “ex post facto” change of consequences, which is prohibited by article 1, section 9 of the constitution:

No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

Basically, this retroactive immunity issue for the big telecommunication companies is Bush vs. the Constitution—if he has his way, then he and those who loyally supported his creeping control over our rights and freedoms will go unpunished. Everything will be swept under the carpet, as if it was 100% OK to work illegally with the government under the cover of secrecy and some winks and nods.

From a Democrats.com email this morning:

Now I must ask you to pick up your phone again and call your Representative right now to demand a NO vote on warrantless wiretapping. The vote will be Friday around noon, but please call no matter what time you get this. (The Congressional switchboard is open 24×7x365 and each office has voicemail.)

Steny Hoyer’s warrantless wiretapping bill is obscene because it gives complete immunity to the telcos that have spied on us illegally since 2001, as well as the Bush Administration officials who illegally asked them to break the law. And it lets them continue spying on us by creating Big Brother with a figleaf of meaningless “protections.”

On May 14, Democrats defeated a similar immunity bill 213-197. There is absolutely no reason for any Democrat to change his or her vote now except corrupt greed for telco campaign cash.

So call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your House Representative (not Senators) by name, or find your House Representative’s name and direct dial by entering your address on the right side: usalone.com

Or, call Speaker Nancy Pelosi (202-225-0100) and ask her to push this back or take it off the schedule. According to Democracy for America:

Speaker Pelosi can still stop this bill.

As Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi can pull the bill from the floor and refuse to call a vote.

Call Speaker Pelosi right now and demand she stand up to President Bush and stop telecom immunity.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (202-225-0100)

Suggested Script:
“I’m calling to tell Speaker Pelosi I am depending on her to pull any bill from the floor that will ultimately grant immunity to telecommunications companies who illegally spied on Americans. Can I count on Speaker Pelosi to stand up to President Bush?”