Alaska Senate Passes Resolution Against NSA Spying

On the last day of March, the Alaska state Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning NSA spying.

SJR22 was introduced in February with virtually the entire body signed on as cosponsors. The language represents an important first step by the Alaska legislature and a harsh rebuke of the illegal NSA spying. While not legally binding, SJR22 sets the stage for passage of legislation which would ban state cooperation with NSA spying, already introduced in both the House and Senate.

The resolution cites both the Fourth and Fifth Amendments including, “No person shall . . . be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law” and mentions the December 16, 2013 statement by a federal judge that the NSA’s bulk collection is likely unconstitutional.

SJR22 then rebukes the NSA.

“FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature considers the National Security Agency’s unilateral collection of the telephone call data of all Americans a violation of statute, an unconstitutional program, and a troubling overreach by the federal government; the Alaska State Legislature has sworn to uphold both the Constitution of the United States and Constitution of the State of Alaska and will not assist the federal government by facilitating programs that are tyrannical in nature, that subject Americans to unreasonable and unwarranted searches, and that violate the fundamental principle of liberty; let this resolution serve as a notice to this Administration and all future Administrations that Alaskans reject surrendering their liberty in the name of an unconstitutional program.”

The resolution passed 18-0 and will move on to the House for consideration.

Now the Senate needs to take the next step.

SB142, introduced by Sen. Bill Wielechowski (D-District G), would ban the state and local governments from assisting, cooperating with or participating “with a federal agency in the collection of electronic data” under any federal acts which authorize that collection “without a search warrant that particularly describes the person, place, and thing to be searched or seized.”This bill is currently pending in the Community and Regional Affairs Committee.

The Senate staked out a strong position by unanimously passing the resolution. No the body needs to move forward and back up its words with a law that will actually thwart unconstitutional NSA spying.

TAKE ACTION

In Alaska: click HERE to learn the next step you need to take to stop NSA spying.

All other states: click HERE to learn how to fight the NSA in your state.