FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                CONTACT: Chris Pordon
Friday, February 15, 2008                                (609) 651-0748
 
STATE SENATOR JOE PENNACCHIO ISSUES STATEMENT ON LAUTENBERG VOTE AGAINST FISA AMENDMENTS

LAUTENBERG VOTES NO ON VITAL NATIONAL SECURITY MEASURE
 
FLORHAM PARK, NJ – U.S. Senate candidate and State Senator Joe Pennacchio today released the following statement in response to Frank Lautenberg's vote against S. 2248, critical amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act:
 
"The threat of terrorism does not have an expiration date, but once again Frank Lautenberg and the ACLU have teamed up to derail America's Homeland Security efforts. The Lautenberg-ACLU Team would allow terrorists to hide under the protection America's hard earned civil liberties and freedoms, while terrorists who respect neither continue to try to hurt and terrorize our citizens.
 
"Our intelligence services must be given the proper tools to defend our nation, and the civil liberties we so cherish, from the global threat of terrorism. That includes meaningful protection for the organizations and private citizens that are able to provide assistance to our intelligence services.
 
"To Senator Lautenberg, it would appear that the opportunity to score political points on a partisan basis has consistently affected his outlook on national security. Recall the Golan Cipel incident, or air-conditioned garbage trucks in Newark, paid for with State Homeland Security dollars, or the allocation of 94% of homeland security funds based on party, not on risk or need. In all of these cases, Lautenberg was silent.
 
"Now the Senator has chosen once again to put the lives of Americans at risk by denying our intelligence services the tools they need to prevent future terrorist attacks. At the heart of this issue, passage of S. 2248 guarantees liability protection for organizations and private citizens who help prevent terrorist attacks. Remember that the terrorist plot to massacre U.S. soldiers at Fort Dix was stopped because of a store clerk turned hero, who noticed something suspicious. Private citizens must be encouraged to lend their assistance, not punished with lawsuits by the ACLU.
 
"In the United States Senate, I will work to reestablish New Jersey's credibility in Washington and ensure that legislation affecting homeland security is given the serious attention and priority it deserves. When it comes to these life or death issues, partisan politics should be the least of our concerns."
 
Joe Pennacchio is a New Jersey State Senator representing the 26th Legislative District.

Visit www.jerseyjoe08.com for more information on Joe Pennacchio's candidacy for the United States Senate.

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Paid for by Joe Pennacchio for US Senate, Inc., PO Box 12, Florham Park, NJ 07932