Scotch Plains, NJ – Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks, Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, today took on the Democrat Congress for sinking to a new low last week by heading home for a long weekend at the expense of national security.

 Already one of the lowest rated Congresses in American history, the House failed to even schedule a vote on the Protect America Act, the bipartisan, Senate-passed bill to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).  FISA is the legal authority that allows the U.S. intelligence community to collect foreign information that protects Americans from terrorist attacks.  That authority expired on Saturday, February 16, 2008.

“Our government and our intelligence officers need every possible tool to protect us from terrorists who want to destroy our quality of life,” Martin Marks said.  “It’s completely irresponsible that House Democratic leaders would put their vacation plans ahead of our safety.”

The Protect America Act will allow the government to initiate wiretaps for up to one year against a wide range of targets, specifically telephone calls between those in America and foreign entities.  Leaders in both Parties credit the legislation with protecting Americans and limiting the ability of foreign terrorists to plan and execute attacks in the United States.

 “The terrorist threat to our country is real and not going away,” Marks said.  “We as citizens must do everything possible to protect ourselves and our families – and we should expect nothing less of the politicians in Washington.  If I were in Congress, I would have stayed in Washington until this important legislation to protect America was passed.”

 House Republicans and President Bush said they were committed to remaining in Washington until the people’s business is done, but the Democrats have chosen inaction and skipped town for the long weekend.

 Marks, the only conservative candidate in the race for Congress, has been a vocal supporter of efforts to address the threat of terrorism, including tighter border and immigration security, extension of FISA, and providing our troops with the support they need to achieve their mission across the world.

Paid for by Marks for Congress