Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

NSA Still Funded To Spy On US Phone Records

Posted by timothy on from the good-day-to-donate-to-the-eff dept.

Reader turp182 notes that the Amash Amendment (#100) to HR 2397 (DOD appropriations bill) failed to pass the House of Representatives, meaning it will not be added to the appropriations bill. turp182 writes "The amendment would have specifically defunded the bulk collection of American phone records." Americans can see how their representatives voted here.

10 of 362 comments (clear)

  1. It's A Start by some+old+guy · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not bad for a first try to rein in rogue agency.

    We need to keep the pressure on, and support organizations and officials who think the principles of Constitutional government are more important than fear-mongering.

    If we don't, the fight is over. The terrorists and our fascist "protectors" have won.

    --
    Scruting the inscrutable for over 50 years.
    1. Re:It's A Start by steelfood · · Score: 5, Informative

      More than one. More than one.

      --
      "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
  2. My congressman will be getting a call today. by intermodal · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's shameful. My district borders on two of my previous districts, and both of those districts voted aye. Both of those representatives are men I voted for in prior elections, and proudly so. My current congressman, on the other hand, has brought disgrace upon himself by voting against this amendment. To be fair, I voted against him...

    --
    In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
    1. Re:My congressman will be getting a call today. by DigiShaman · · Score: 3, Informative

      John Culberson (Republican with TeaParty)- Texas 7th district - had this to say about why he voted against the Amash amendment but instead voted for the Pompeo amendment.

      voted for the Pompeo (Nugent) Amendment instead of the Amash Amendment because it protects the privacy of American citizens. The Pompeo (Nugent) Amendment prohibits the NSA from targeting U.S. persons and protects the content of our phone calls from the NSA. Specifically, the Pompeo (Nugent) Amendment prohibits the NSA from listening to phone calls of American citizens without a court ordered search warrant. It protects our privacy and protects our Constitutional rights without destroying the NSA’s ability to track terrorists, as I believe the Amash Amendment would have done. The consequence of the Amash Amendment would be to prevent the collection and analysis of ALL bulk data in America — not just the data of American citizens. This would protect the data of terrorists who are operating sleeper cells in this country and make us vulnerable to future terrorist attacks. The Amash amendment would do nothing to reform the NSA surveillance program and would do nothing to ensure that the privacy of American citizens is protected. The NSA has successfully stopped several domestic terrorist attacks, and we need to continue tracking and stopping terrorists while at the same time protecting the privacy and Constitutional rights of American citizens.

      http://culberson.house.gov/protecting-your-right-to-privacy/

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
  3. Re:wait a minute by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Informative

    Whoops, broken link. Try this instead: Official House vote

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  4. Re:wait a minute by crutchy · · Score: 2, Informative

    i guess typing in your zip code is a bit much to ask

  5. 113th congress by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 4, Informative

    113th congress is the worst in history, which is sadly impressive given how bad the 112th was.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_the_113th_United_States_Congress

    There have been a total 13 bills make it into law so far this Congress... and the ones that have made it into law are about items such as "Freedom to Fish".

    It's at a complete stand still folks. You're representatives have finally dropped to the point they aren't even pretending to represent interests of voters over the interests of their corporate donors.

    How bad does it have to get before something is done?

  6. Re:Jury maundering at its finest. by robinsonne · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think you mean Gerrymandering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering/

  7. Re:Still don't get it... by Hatta · · Score: 4, Informative

    Does the name COINTELPRO mean anything to you? Decades ago the government used illegal surveillance to attempt to quash the civil rights movement. What assurances do we have that they won't do this again? Why should we believe they have good intentions at all when they cannot comply with the 4th amendment?

    --
    Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  8. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 3, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion