Action Alert to Help Restore Habeas Corpus

Brian Zick

Matt Stoller at MyDD reports: I'm told there's an outside shot that House Democrats on the Armed Services Committee will put a restoration of habeas corpus into the Defense Department Authorization Bill being marked up tomorrow and Thursday. Apparently Chairman Skelton has the votes but there are concerns about whether to have this fight now. Now's the time to let them know that this is something that we elected them to get done. There's a bit of fear that this vote could put freshmen members at risk, though I don't really know why as the data on this isn't compelling and the attack ads just didn't work in 2006. The most important members to contact are Ike Skelton, antiwar freshmen, and members of the Armed Services Committee. Pelosi and Hoyer would be good too. Matt and Christy at firedoglake are urging readers to contact members of the committee and House leaders, and they have assembled contact information. Christy provides a brief explanation of habeas corpus, it's importance to preserving our democracy, and why Democrats must address the issue now, and not play political calculus games. toll free numbers for the Capitol switchboard: 1 (800) 828 - 0498 1 (800) 459 - 1887 1 (800) 614 - 2803 1 (866) 340 - 9281 1 (866) 338 - 1015 1 (877) 851 - 6437 Leadership Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (202) 225-4965 Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, (202) 225-4131 Armed Services Committee Democrats Ike Skelton, Missouri, Chairman, 202-225-2876 John Spratt, South Carolina, 202-225-5501 Solomon P. Ortiz, Texas, (202) 225-7742 Gene Taylor, Mississippi, 202 225-5772 Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii, (202) 225-2726 Marty Meehan, Massachusetts, (202) 225-3411 Silvestre Reyes, Texas, (202) 225-4831 Vic Snyder, Arkansas, 202-225-2506 Adam Smith, Washington, (202) 225-8901 Loretta Sanchez, California, 202-225-5859 Mike McIntyre, North Carolina, (202) 225-2731 Ellen O. Tauscher, California, (202) 225-1880 Robert A. Brady, Pennsylvania, (202) 225-4731 Robert Andrews, New Jersey, 202-225-6501 Susan A. Davis, California, (202) 225-2040 Rick Larsen, Washington, (202) 225-2605 Jim Cooper, Tennessee, 202-225-4311 Jim Marshall, Georgia, 202-225-4311 Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Guam, (202) 225-1188 Mark Udall, Colorado, (202) 225-2161 Dan Boren, Oklahoma, (202) 225-2701 Brad Ellsworth, Indiana, (202) 225-4636 Nancy Boyda, Kansas, (202) 225-6601 Patrick Murphy, Pennsylvania, (202) 225-4276 Hank Johnson, Georgia, (202) 225-1605 Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire,(202) 225-5456 Joe Courtney, Connecticut, (202) 225-2076 David Loebsack, Iowa, 202.225.6576 Kirsten Gillibrand, New York, (202) 225-5614 Joe Sestak, Pennsylvania, (202) 225-2011 Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona, (202) 225-2542 Elijah Cummings, Maryland, (202) 225-4741 Kendrick Meek, Florida, 202-225-4506 Kathy Castor, Florida, (202)225-3376

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