Tag: OffNow Coalition
-
Signed into Law: Florida Bill Expands Limits on Drone Surveillance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2015 by Mike Maharrey, The Tenth Amendment Center, ©2015 (May 15, 2015) — TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 15, 2015) – Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed signed a bill into law yesterday that takes a second step against mass surveillance, expanding current limitations on the use of drones in the Sunshine State…
-
NSA Gadget Transfer Program Turning Local Cops into Spies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 27, 2015 by the OffNow Coalition, ©2015 (Apr. 27, 2015) — With the media spotlight shining on police militarization, most Americans know something about the federal 1033 transfer program that enables police departments to get military equipment like armored vehicles, high-power weapons, grenade launchers, and even bayonets. But most Americans don’t…
-
Bill to Pull Plug On NSA Introduced in Texas
LEGISLATION WOULD TURN OFF WATER AND ELECTRIC TO SAN ANTONIO FACILITY by Mike Maharrey, OffNow Coalition, ©2015 (Mar. 17, 2015) — AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas legislator introduced a bill that would stop the independent Texas power grid from being used to power mass, warrantless surveillance by the NSA last week. Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R)…
-
Correction: New Hampshire House Votes to Reject Federal Militarization of Local Police, 204-134
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 19, 2015 by Michael Maharrey, OffNow Coalition, ©2015 (Feb. 19, 2015) — NOTE: We originally reported the N.H. House passed a bill to stop police militarization. It later came to our attention that the bill was amended during the process, turning it into a study committee. We apologize for the error.…
-
Tennessee Bill Takes On NSA Code-Breaking Facility, Bans Material Support and Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE by Michael Maharrey, OffNow Coalition, ©2015 (Feb. 16, 2015) — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Last Wednesday, Tennessee legislators filed bills to directly take on NSA spying by withholding vital state resources and material support from any federal agency engaged in warrantless surveillance. Sen. Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) introduced SB782 in the Tennessee Senate…
-
Four and Counting: States Consider Bill to Turn Off Resources to the NSA pb
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JAN. 20, 2015 by Michael Maharrey, OffNow Coalition (Jan. 20, 2015) — State efforts to stop warrantless NSA spying are off to a fast start in the 2015 legislative session. Just two weeks into this year’s legislative season, and with many legislatures not even in session yet, legislators in four states have…
-
Missouri Bill Would Ban Material Support or Resources to NSA
STOPPING THE SURVEILLANCE STATE, ONE STATE AT A TIME by the OffNow Coalition, ©2014 (Dec. 24, 2014) — JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Dec 22, 2014 – With Congress not only failing to rein in National Security Agency (NSA) spying, but actually expanding its power in a recent funding bill, many privacy activists are looking to the…
-
Big News: A Dozen States Take On NSA and Surveillance State in 2015
CITIZENS CAN SUGGEST BILLS NOW FOR NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS IN JANUARY by Mike Maharrey, Executive Director, OffNow Coalition, ©2014 (Oct. 24, 2014) — At least a dozen states are likely to consider bills to battle the NSA and other segments of the surveillance state in 2015. With more than two months still remaining before many…
-
Coalition of Civil Liberty Advocates and Intelligence Community Whistleblowers Oppose USA Freedom Act
“THE PATRIOT ACT IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM” Contact: Mike Maharrey Communications Director O: 213-863-0576 F: 213.402.3938 media@tenthamendmentcenter.com www.offnow.org For Immediate Release: Sept 15, 2014 (Sep. 15, 2014) — OffNow has joined a trans-partisan coalition of surveillance whistleblowers, civil liberties advocates, and organizations representing millions of Americans urging Congress to reject the Senate version…
-
Calif. Senate Passes Bill to Pull Plug on NSA Spying
29-1 by Mike Maharrey, ©2014, The Tenth Amendment Center (May 19, 2014) — SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A bipartisan bill that creates a mechanism to turn off all state material support and assistance to the NSA overwhelmingly passed the California state Senate Monday. Dubbed the Fourth Amendment Protection Act, Senate Bill 828 (SB828) would ban the…
-
Passed in Missouri and on to the Voters: Bill to Protect Electronic Communications and Data
“DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE” by Mike Maharrey, The Tenth Amendment Center, ©2014 (May 16, 2014) — JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri House gave final approval to legislation protecting electronic communications and data Friday. As a proposal for a state constitutional amendment, it bypasses the governor’s desk and goes directly to the people for consideration…
-
A Clear Divide: Surveillance State on Display During Maryland Fourth Amendment Hearing pb
A BATTLE FOR FREEDOM FROM ILLEGAL SEARCHES AND SEIZURES from The Tenth Amendment Center/Offnow Coalition, ©2014 (Mar. 9, 2014) — Rarely do you get to witness a battle with the line between right and wrong so clearly drawn. The Maryland House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Fourth Amendment Protection Act afforded such an opportunity. One…
-
First in the Nation: Arizona Senate Committee Passes 4th Amendment Protection Act
COLLECTION OF DATA WITHOUT WARRANT TARGETED by Mike Maharrey, ©2014, The Tenth Amendment Center (Feb. 4, 2014) — On Monday, an Arizona state senate committee became the first legislative body in the country to pass a bill designed to thwart surveillance programs from the National Security Agency (NSA). Senate Bill 1156 (SB1156), the Arizona 4th Amendment…
-
Mississippi Is Tenth State to Consider Legislation to Ban Cooperation with NSA
“TURNING OFF THE POWER” by Mike Maharrey, the Tenth Amendment Center (Jan. 25, 2014) – With the introduction of the Fourth Amendment Protection Act this week, Mississippi became the tenth state in the country to consider legislation to make life difficult for the NSA’s ongoing mass surveillance programs. Senate Bill 2438 (SB2438), introduced by Sen.…
-
Arizona 4th Amendment Protection Act Introduced, Bans Help to NSA, Use of Warrantless Data in Court
“TAKING A STAND” by the Tenth Amendment Center, ©2014 (Jan. 24, 2014) — Arizona state Senator Kelli Ward made good on her commitment to introduce legislation that would withdraw all state support of the NSA and hang a big “Spies Not Welcome Here” sign on the front door of the Grand Canyon State this week.…
-
Breaking News: Washington First State With NSA Facility to Consider Prohibiting Cooperation with the Agency
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE from the Tenth Amendment Center Contact: Mike Maharrey Communications Director O: 213.935.0553 F: 213.402.3938 media@tenthamendmentcenter.com www.tenthamendmentcenter.com (Jan. 15, 2014) — The state level campaign to turn off power and electricity to the NSA got a big boost Wednesday. In a bipartisan effort, Washington became first state with a physical NSA location to…