From Jim Steiner, candidate for Congress, 2nd CD:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:From Jim Steiner, candidate for Congress, 2nd CD:"Paul Hodes and I will never agree where he chooses to ignore the seriousness of national security and the obligation of Congress to take part in protecting Americans pro-actively," said Steiner addressing the FISA law passed today by the House.  "Since January I have taken Paul Hodes to task for failing to vote in favor of the FISA/Protect America Act.  Today, more reasonable bipartisan members joined in the type of vote the U.S. Senate made two months ago, and passed a long-awaited FISA/Protect America bill.  Paul Hodes voted against it yet again."  Even Paul Hodes' candidate for President, Sen. Barak Obama, stated ""Given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay."Said Steiner, a former Army Green Beret, "fighting terrorism is not a game to be played via partisan politics or by ignoring the safety of Americans.  The FISA/Protect America bill provides for our intelligence services to be able to use their talents to take pro-active measures against threats to our safety.  It is that basic.  To vote against it, as Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter did today, in the minority of their own party, does not reflect well on their understanding of national security."Excerpts from Jim Steiner's press releases since January regarding FISA/Protect America.
 May 6:  Press ReleaseProtection of Americans Cannot be Made a Second Tier Issue - The Senate FISA Bill Needs to be Passed into Law
"As has been clear since the issue arose in January 2008, I disagree with the votes by Paul Hodes on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)
legislation that continues to languish with this current Congress.  Even a bi-partisan group of U.S. Senators (including Senators Webb and Feinstein) passed the law the President will sign to enable our intelligence
services to have all the tools needed available for them to protect us. Paul Hodes and other members of Congress choose to ignore the reality of the threat, the potential for harm, the risk to Americans, and instead of joining their Democrat colleagues in a show of genuine bi-partisan effort
treat FISA as a political potato." Press Release: April 9Candidate for Congress Jim Steiner is a former Green Beret and Military Intelligence Officer. He is keenly aware of the price being paid by pushing back onto the intelligence services additional requirements that slow down the processing of fleeting and real-time intelligence missions."Months ago a bipartisan Senate, by an overwelming majority, passed a reasonable FISA law, intended to authorize our intelligence services to continue performing their tasks to protect America, and giving telecommunications companies legal protection from frivolous law suits.  The House of Representatives, rather than pass similiar legislation, took a vacation."  February 25, 2008 Press Release

Steiner on FISA

"For all the political posturing by the House about why failing to pass the FISA/Protect America Act before recessing is of no import, it remains a fact that a bipartisan Senate concluded, by a wide margin, the law needed to be passed.  In New Hampshire, our members of the House refused to support the existing legislation modeled after the Senate version, even though their Democrat colleagues in the Senate approved it. 

Message to Congress:  turn the lights on, listen to what your Senate colleagues, of both parties, had to say, and deal with national security seriously.  If you wish to gamble, go to Foxwoods during the recess."  

February 14 Press Release:  FISA: Please Have Someone in Congress Turn the Lights On?

From Jim Steiner, candidate for Congress, 2nd CD, responding to failure by the House of Representatives to pass permanent legislation as the Senate accomplished this week:"It is a shame when the current House leadership treats national security like it is a game.  It is a shame they could not conduct themselves with the same maturity demonstrated in the Senate, which recognized the signficance of providing permanent legislation for our intelligence services, and voted 68-29 in favor of a permanent revised FISA/Protect America law.""The enemy is real.  The terrorist attacks of 9/11 were part of a series of examples of efforts, large and small, brought against U.S. citizens.  Those efforts continue.  Arming our intelligence services with the authority to protect us is the least Congress can do.  It certainly should be a greater priority than a further 11th-hour band-aid extension effort by the House."