Weekly Update (10/12/07)

House Panel Defies Bush in Passing Surveillance Overhaul
This week a House panel approved a bill requiring more judicial and congressional oversight of foreign intelligence surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency (NSA). This new measure would replace the so-called Protect America Act, which was passed this summer. Civil liberties groups believe that this measure would be a step in the right direction, towards more protection for Americans and their privacy.

One important aspect of the bill is that it does not provide protection for communications firms that may have aided government surveillance efforts illegally. Telecommunication firms have been lobbying heavily for such a provision, and the White House is in favor of this protection. House Democrats are now standing up to Bush and corrupt business interests in pushing for this bill. It remains to be seen how the entire House and Senate will vote on this measure.

DAPAC-Endorsed Congressman Makes a Statement for Congressional Power
John Yarmuth, the freshman Congressman from Kentucky endorsed by DAPAC in 2006, has been troubled by the way the Constitution has been forgotten when it comes to legislating. So he decided to remind his fellow Congress members of their Constitutional powers by making and distributing pins with the words “Article 1,” referencing the Constitution: “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States.” Yarmuth wants to reiterate that the Founding Fathers intended Congress to run the country, not the President. About 50 members of the House took the pins, and many were fellow freshman.

Yarmuth explained that the pins “came out of thinking about why we were all elected last year. The war had a lot to do with it but another, I think equally important factor was the sense that the people’s voice was not being heard in deliberations of government, that the presidency had gotten much too powerful and arrogant.” He added: “The American people wanted to push back against the imperial presidency.”

DAPAC is proud of Yarmuth and other endorsed House members who are taking their Congressional responsibilities so seriously. Yarmuth stated, “ All legislative powers are vested in the Congress and, in fact, the Constitution grants very limited powers to the executive branch [...] Hopefully, if this catches on, the public will see that we understand our power and our responsibility.”

Bush's Approval Ratings Drop in October
In a poll released by Gallup this week, President Bush's approval ratings have dropped once again, coming in at 32%. One month ago his approval was up to 36%, but has now returned to a level which matches his average for the second half of this year.