Now that the Patriot Act extension has passed the House, it is expected to go for a cloture vote in the Senate this Friday morning. Frist will be calling for an end to debate and a vote.
However, Senator Russ Feingold is willing to filibuster this and make sure it does not pass.
Please contact your senator and tell them to stand with Senator Feingold.
This is not a hopeless venture. Opposition to parts of the PATRIOT ACT has come from Republicans and Demcorats so don't hesitate to call your senator even if s/he is a Republican.
Current Count:
No Cloture: Reid (NV), Leady, Feingold, Obama, Durbin, Sununu, Kerry, Salazar, Hagel, Craig, Murkowski
Cloture: Frist, Spector
Leave your Senator's opinion in the comments and this will be updates. More info about the act and exension after the fold.
For those looking for more information on this, Senator Feingold is currently blogging and updating us about the PATRIOT ACT over at the TPM CAFE Table for One. (
http://www.tpmcafe.com/...)
In his own great framing:
"The President could sign Patriot Act reauthorization legislation into law tomorrow if the House would just take up and pass the compromise Senate bill that was approved unanimously in the Senate earlier this year - a bill that includes important and reasonable privacy protections. This isn't about stopping Patriot Act reauthorization, it's about getting it right this time around."
And he needs out help:
"Now is the time to contact your Senators to urge them to oppose cloture and insist that a Patriot Act reauthorization bill include the modest but crucial reforms that I and the other bipartisan opponents of the conference report have recommended."
So let your senators know that you oppose with cloture and ask them to stand with Senator Feingold.