Spying?

The ACLU of Washington is demanding more information from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Defense about government surveillance of local activist groups that was first reported by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer last month.

In a broad Freedom of Information Act request announced on Tuesday, the ACLU sought to determine the extent of the surveillance on 11 groups—including the Raging Grannies and the Seattle Peace Chorus—and also sought to uncover whether information about the groups has been transferred into databases run by the Department of Defense.

The spying on local peace groups traces back to the 2003 Seafair festival, when FBI agents reportedly monitored the Raging Grannies and other groups out of fear they would chain themselves to visiting navy ships. No chaining transpired.

The local FBI has said it is uninterested in monitoring people who are lawfully exercising their Constitutional rights, but the ACLU, citing reports of FBI spying on peace groups across the nation, is unconvinced.

"The government should not spy on groups engaging in peaceful political protest," said Kathleen Taylor, Executive Director of the local ACLU chapter. ELI SANDERS

Endorsing?

Eastside Republican Congressman Dave Reichert likes to impress constituents by flaunting his post as Chair of the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security. But recently Reichert has been hammered by his Democratic challenger, Darcy Burner, for using that post to stall antiterrorism recommendations put forward by the 9/11 Commission.

Among the measures that Reichert's committee is sitting on are bills that would improve the ability of first responders to communicate during an emergency. That doesn't look good for a politician who cultivates a reputation as a tough-guy former sheriff, and in an effort to deflate criticism over the stalled first-responder bills, Reichert's campaign announced on Monday that it has secured the endorsement of the Seattle Fire Fighters Union Local 27.

But Burner's campaign points out that the endorsement comes from a maverick firefighters union outside Reichert's district, and that the more relevant firefighter endorsement will come from the State Council of Fire Fighters.

"With all due respect," says Burner campaign manager Zach Silk, "the Seattle Fire Fighters Union is clearly out of touch with the needs of first responders in the 8th Congressional District." ELI SANDERS