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Disastrous Constitutional Consequences
To the Editor:
In October 2006, the Republican controlled Congress passed the Military Commissions Act ("MCA"). In so doing they cast aside over 200 years of Constitutional law and the principle of habeas corpus. This principal - dating back to the Magna Carta - provides detainees the means to seek relief from unlawful imprisonment. The MCA gives /any/ president the sole power to declare who is an enemy combatant and who is not. Once detained as an "enemy combatant", the detainee can be indefinitely held without charges and perhaps be subject to torture and abuse.
This law is far too broad. If we capture actual enemies of the state, bring them to trial and follow the laws we have the means to keep us safe. Following the Geneva Accords and all international treaties protect US interests.
I personally feel that this issue is so important that I went to Washington DC on Tuesday June 26 for a Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice. The day was sponsored by the ACLU, Amnesty International, The Leadership Council on Civil Rights, The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, the League of Women Voters and many other groups. (Refer to the website www.juneaction.org for details.)
Add your voice to this action in support of two important bills which attempt to remedy the damage inflicted by the MCA: HR 1415, S.576 "Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007"; HR 1416, S.185 "Habeas Corpus Restoration Act"
After a rally with speeches by Senators Leahy, Dodd, Harkin, Representative Kucinich and other Democrats and Republicans, we divided by states and Congressional districts and visited our representatives to lobby for the legislation.
Our first meeting was conducted by aides to Sen. Hillary Clinton. Both Senators Clinton and Schumer did vote Nay on the MCA in 2006. Sen.Clinton has agreed to be a co-sponsor of the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act, but has not made up her mind regarding the Restoration of the Constitution Act. Sen. Schumer has not signed on to either at this point. Both need to have pressure. In fact, we were sadly disappointed that Sen. Schumer did not grant a public meeting but met only with 20 people in a private meeting.
My next visit was to Congressman John Hall's office. Congressman Hall was on his way to a meeting but his aide met with us and we feel confident of Congressman Hall's support.
Please contact our representatives in Congress - Senators Clinton and Schumer and Congressman Hall - to urge them to publicly support these bills.
For those of you hard at work at jobs, etc., I know it is difficult to keep abreast of all the goings on. But in this case, take a moment to write, email, call. The Congress is listening but we must tell them we are watching too. There were many senior citizens in Washington. We are doing this for the next generation -our future, our families, our grandchildren. Act today and protect the US Constitution.
Sheilah Rechtschaffer
Garrison
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