Greens express support for Legislature's rebuke of PATRIOT Act just days before Congress expected to debate the re-authorization of the controversial law
GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
SACRAMENTO (February 1, 2006) - The state Assembly has approved a resolution criticizing the USA PATRIOT Act in a move that should send a strong message to Congress that Californians want all or much of the law killed, said the Green Party of California Wednesday. Congress is expected to vote this week on whether to re-authorize the USA PATRIOT Act. The Assembly Monday approved by a vote of 44-32 a joint resolution condemning parts of the USA Patriot Act. The Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 10 by Sen. Liz Figueroa late in the 2005.SJR 10 urges Congress to amend provisions of the Patriot Act deemed unconstitutional and undemocratic by a vast majority of civil libertarians. The measure was initiated by the California Civil Rights Alliance (CCRA), a coalition of 23 organizations including the American Muslim Alliance, Green Party of California, Libertarian Party and Catholic, Episcopalian and Unitarian Churches.
SJR 10 "resolves" California will ensure no state resources be provided for any action that would violate the U.S. or CA constitution "even if authorized in the USA PATRIOT ACT," urges its congressional delegation to "repeal any provisions of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act that limit or impinge on rights and liberties" protected by the U.S. and state constitutions, and to "oppose any pending and future federal legislation to the extent that it would infringe on Americans' civil rights and liberties."
"This decision by state lawmakers send a clear message to our members of Congress that we do not want the PATRIOT Act, specifically those provisions that strip us of our basic rights, to be extended," said Pat Driscoll, a GPCA spokesperson and former Congressional candidate.
"The passage of this resolution is an unambiguous statement from the most populated state in the union for more checks and balances," added Dr. Agha Saeed, CCRA coordinator.
Nearly 400 U.S. cities and seven states - the last three, Colorado, Montana and Idaho, were all "Red" Republican states in the 2004 election - have approved similar measures.
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Contacts:
Crescenzo Vellucci, State Press Office,
916.996.9170,
Sara Amir (Los Angeles),
310.270.7106,
Dr. Bob Vizzard (Sacramento),
916.206.8953,
Daniel Brezenoff (Southern California),
310.422.2211,
Susan King (San Francisco),
415.823.5524,
The Green Party of California
PO Box 2828
Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
Web: http://www.cagreens.org
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