by hilzoy
The Senate is considering a bill (SA 2022, substantially the same as S. 185, which I discussed here) that would restore habeas corpus to detainees. According to Christy Hardin Smith at FDL:
“I am told by a source who knows the head count that we are within a slim margin on the habeas restoration amendment — and that the vote could still go either way. It is a razor thin margin right now, which means there is no Senator whose vote can be taken for granted. (…)
The following list are the Senators who are currently being targeted for not having an announced position one way or the other:
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Sen. George Voinavich (R-OH)
Sen. John Sununu (R-NH)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)Please, take some time this morning to call both your Senators — whether they are on this list or not – and then call a few from the above list as well to voice your support for the full restoration of habeas. You can call your Senators toll free using the following numbers (h/t to katymine):
1 (800) 828 – 0498
1 (800) 459 – 1887
1 (800) 614 – 2803
1 (866) 340 – 9281
1 (866) 338 – 1015
1 (877) 851 – 6437″
If you support restoring habeas rights to detainees, now would be a good time to call. Besides, if you make the call, then you can enjoy BitchPhD’s yummy recipes with a clear conscience.
If you don’t know whether you support restoring habeas or not, Christy has a good rundown of the issues. This old post of mine is also a refresher, this explores the role of denying habeas to making our detention system completely unaccountable, and this counters some arguments made by people who think detainees should not have habeas rights.
Thank you.
Support Habeas Now
Stealing from Hilzoy, who stole form FDL:
I am told by a source who knows the head count that we are within a slim margin on the habeas restoration amendment — and that the vote could still go either way. It is a razor thin margin right now, w…
The list I saw yesterday mentioned that Sen. Schumer wasn’t a sponsor. Since he’s not on this list, I’m guessing either that’s changed or his position has in some other way become known. Does anyone know if that’s the case? The comments to the linked post say both that he has said he’ll vote for it on the radio and that his office told a caller he wasn’t sure.
Fixed version of washerdreyer’s link (the “http://” was missing).
But I’m not sure how much to make of Bob Geirger’s list anyway. I don’t think senators are generally expected to sign on as cosponsors to every bill they support.
I called Senator Webb about this, but I expect him to be a good vote anyway. I’m not expecting anything from Senator Warner, who’s spent the last six years Spectering. But every time I’ve tried calling his office, it’s still been busy or just rung without an answer. Either he’s still being robo-called over immigration, or there’s only one line to his office or something.
Just a nit. The senior senator from Ohio is George “Voinovich”, with a second “o”, not an “a”. He’s a GOP’er. Sherrod Brown is a Democrat, is the junior senator and was elected last fall.