The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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March 1, 2008

Your View: Walz courageous in face of unprincipled lobbyists





A lobbying group is running an ad that turns truth on its head, falsely accusing our congressman, Tim Walz, of refusing to grant intelligence agencies the powers they need to intercept al-Qaida communications.

Painting Walz as the obstructionist is the exact opposite of the truth. Walz and his colleagues in the House passed a bill that would modernize communications intelligence, and President Bush obstructed that bill, with the aid of allies in the Senate.

For a lobbying group to try to pin the blame on those, like Walz, who voted for the RESTORE act is cynical. Do they think that we, the constituents, were not paying attention Nov. 15, when the vote was taken? Or do they think that we were not paying attention more recently, when Walz did everything in his power to see that bill reconciled with the Senate’s version?

The ad also would have us blame Walz for insisting on a permanent upgrade to the law, rather than another temporary “Band-Aid” extension. It is worth noting that on this matter, Walz was in complete agreement with the Republican leaders who insisted that national security should not be legislated a couple weeks at a time.

Now we are subjected to an ad that is highly misleading about the consequences of the lack of extension. Intelligence agencies retain their full legal authority to intercept al-Qaida communication. For a year, even the extra powers they had temporarily been granted will not lapse.

Call his office and let Walz know you appreciate his courage in the face of such unprincipled lobbyists.

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