Rice Challenges Inhofe On Privacy, Medical Issues

by: DocHoc

Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:16:13 PM CDT

U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn continue to vote against the interests of Oklahomans when it comes to privacy rights and medical issues.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Andrew Rice, pictured right, who is running against Inhofe this election year, was honored nationally for his support of privacy rights as he challenges "one of the most extremist members of the U.S. Senate."

This week Republicans Inhofe and Coburn voted to extend the so-called "no warrant wiretapping bill" that grants retroactive immunity to telecommunication companies for participating in President George Bush's illegal wiretapping program.  They also voted against a bill that will prevent drastic cuts in Medicare payments to physicians.

The wiretapping bill passed despite opposition from a broad range of organizations and individuals concerned with civil and privacy rights.  The bill allows the government to continue to spy on its citizens without adequate judicial oversight. Telecommunication companies who previously helped the government spy on its citizens will face no penalty under the bill's provisions.

The Medicare bill passed by a veto-proof margin despite the opposition from Inhofe and Coburn.

Law-abiding Oklahomans concerned with protecting their privacy from government intrusion should be appalled the state's two senators voted in favor of the wiretapping bill.  Will the government read your email, listen to your telephone conversations?  How will the government use your personal information against you? Why should big corporations be immune from the law?

Oklahomans who rely on Medicare or know people who use Medicare should be extremely concerned about the Inhofe and Coburn votes.  If the cuts would have remained in effect, many doctors would have stopped accepting Medicare patients, according to media reports.  This would have impacted the lives of thousands of elderly Oklahomans.

The 73-year-old Inhofe is running for reelection this year.  His main opponent, Rice, 35, an Oklahoma City Democrat, was recently cited by Blue America as a "Real American Patriot" on the popular blog Down With Tyranny for opposing the wiretapping measure.