The Executive Members of DFNYC issued the following press release this afternoon, June 24, 2008, regarding the House of Representatives vote on amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that would give immunity from prosecution to telecommunications companies who participated in the president's illegal domestic surveillance program.

We urge you to contact NY Senators Hillary Clinton & Charles Schumer, and Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and tell them to support efforts in the Senate to strip these immunity provisions from the final bill.

Democracy for NYC is severely disappointed that the House of Representatives has voted to pass a bill that is unnecessary at best, and a severe blow to freedom at home and abroad. The House vote on H.R.6304, the "FISA Amendments Act of 2008," indicates a denial of reality among both Democrats and Republicans, and a repudiation of the foundation of the American way.

Under current law, the President may already authorize wiretaps before even asking for a secret warrant. There is absolutely no chance that a potential terrorist operation will go undetected because of a legal technicality. As such, the 1978 law still upholds the American system of checks and balances while also allowing the government agencies charged with protecting us to act quickly whenever they believe that quick action is needed. The law as it exists today works very well, which is why both left- and right-wing groups and publications have stated that we don't need to change it.

Unfortunately, too many people in the House of Representatives don't understand how well the current FISA law works. They apparently believe that our freedom, and our Constitution, are not strong enough to withstand the threat of terrorism. We vehemently disagree. We believe that freedom can withstand the threat, as it has withstood threats from monarchs, Nazis, and Communists for over 200 years. The failure--or refusal--of members of the House of Representatives to believe in and support freedom and the Constitution renders them unfit to serve in Congress. As Benjamin Franklin is crediting with publishing, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." The 293 members of the House of Representatives who voted to sacrifice liberty for the phony promise of safety deserve neither liberty nor safety, nor do they deserve to hold a leadership position in our society.

A PDF version of the official press release may be viewed/downloaded HERE...

Saigon Grill delivery workers courageously protesting unfair and unlawful working conditions, have had a victory.  A U.S. District Court judgment of $4.6 million was awarded to 36 employees of Saigon Grill Restaurant for labor law violations.  For two years, delivery works with the support of Justice Will Be Served!, Democracy for NYC and other community groups, have been picketing Saigon Grill Restaurants on the Upper West Side and University Place.

These workers were fired in March 2007 in retaliation for planning to bring a lawsuit against the owners Simon and Michelle Nget. The workers were represented by Davis Polk & Wardwell in conjunction with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and organized by Chinese Staff & Workers' Association and 318 Restaurant Workers Union.

Picketing and boycotting of targeted restaurants will continue.  Contact Justice Will Be Served!   for details.

With health care expenses continuing to rise exponentially, insurance plans are cutting costs in any way possible and have begun limiting coverage for prosthetic devices that help amputees resume a normal, productive life:

A recent Washington Post article chronicles the experience of Lorenzo Smith, a 15 year-old teenager from Maryland, who was struck by a car and had his leg amputated. Smith was told by his insurance company that they would only provide half of the $40,000 cost for a prosthetic leg (Please see article on reverse side). Lorenzo is not the only person being denied equitable coverage. For example, a number of health insurance companies have begun to limit reimbursement at unrealistic levels for prosthetic devices. Some have imposed $2,500 or even $1,000 annual maximums on prosthetic devices, which only covers a small portion of the total cost for these devices.

The Amputee Coalition of America is working to promote support for the Group Health Plan Prosthetics Parity Act of 2007 (HR 5615) that will require insurance companies that offer prosthetic services to provide the same level of coverage as they do for medical and surgical services.

As of this writing, the bipartisan bill's current co-sponsors include:

• Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ)
• Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
• Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA)
• Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
• Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ)
• Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
• Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY)

It would be very helpful to have additional members of the New York Congressional delegation on board.

Call and/or write Your Congressman and ask them to support HR 5615

For more info on how you can support this legislation, visit the ACA Website.

Longtime DFNYC member Jeremiah Frei-Pearson is coordinating DFNYC's work on issues regarding student loans and is working to build a network of activists in New York City that can be called upon to contact government leaders in support of progressive education legislation.

DFNYC's past work has included support of the Higher Education Access Act of 2007 and the successful effort to get the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 passed.

Current efforts are focused on the Student Borrower's Bill of Rights (S. 511) which was introduced by NY Senator Hillary Clinton but has taken a backseat during the presidential campaign. With that campaign entering a new phase, perhaps Senator Clinton and her colleagues can be pursuaded to move this legislation onto the Senate floor for passage into law.

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