WITH A WHISPER, NOT A BANG (Patriot Act II signed by President on December 13, 2003)

San Antonio Current ^ | 12/24/03 | David Martin

[Lower55]

pulls sneaky tricks to take my freedoms away.

Would that be the freedom to launder money for terrorists?

[deport]

From the Text:

`(d) For purposes of this section, and sections 1115 and 1117 insofar as they relate to the operation of this section, the term `financial institution' has the same meaning as in subsections (a)(2) and (c)(1) of section 5312 of title 31, United States Code,

Now (a)(2)

(2)

''financial institution'' means -

(A)

an insured bank (as defined in section 3(h) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(h)));

(B)

a commercial bank or trust company;

(C)

a private banker;

(D)

an agency or branch of a foreign bank in the United States;

(E)

an insured institution (as defined in section 401(a) ^[1] See References in Text note below.

(F)

a thrift institution;

(G)

a broker or dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.);

(H)

a broker or dealer in securities or commodities;

(I)

an investment banker or investment company;

(J)

a currency exchange;

(K)

an issuer, redeemer, or cashier of travelers' checks, checks, money orders, or similar instruments;

(L)

an operator of a credit card system;

(M)

an insurance company;

(N)

a dealer in precious metals, stones, or jewels;

(O)

a pawnbroker;

(P)

a loan or finance company;

(Q)

a travel agency;

(R)

a licensed sender of money;

(S)

a telegraph company;

(T)

a business engaged in vehicle sales, including automobile, airplane, and boat sales;

(U)

persons involved in real estate closings and settlements;

(V)

the United States Postal Service;

(W)

an agency of the United States Government or of a State or local government carrying out a duty or power of a business described in this paragraph;

(X)

a casino, gambling casino, or gaming establishment with an annual gaming revenue of more than $1,000,000 which -

(i)

is licensed as a casino, gambling casino, or gaming establishment under the laws of any State or any political subdivision of any State; or

(ii)

is an Indian gaming operation conducted under or pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act other than an operation which is limited to class I gaming (as defined in section 4(6) of such Act);

(Y)

any business or agency which engages in any activity which the Secretary of the Treasury determines, by regulation, to be an activity which is similar to, related to, or a substitute for any activity in which any business described in this paragraph is authorized to engage; or

(Z)

any other business designated by the Secretary whose cash transactions have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory matters.

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[woofie]

It turns out this was the "Parrot ACT II" not the "Patriot Act II"

Never Mind

[Pikamax]

The writer of the article must have seen a different law passed than this one. almost tinfoilion.

[LPM1888]

I can't see what the difference is if the person who chooses the appointees can't be trusted.

[HiTech RedNeck]

But of COU-URSE its legal scope has been even further expanded than this money laundering stuff. The money laundering stuff was the camel's nose, because they could do the same thing even before, with the assent of a grand jury. The assent of the grand jury was abolished with respect to spying in pursuit of money laundering crimes. Verily, verily, quickly entereth the entire camel.

[oceanview]

be assured, Dean could be trusted to pick every Ruth Bader Ginsburg he could find.

[Lower55]

how will this law be used in those hands?

Bush signed the bill that was passed by a majority of Congress. Did this small fact get lost on this thread? This is not a kingdom, it's a representative republic.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Congress couldn't possibly read all the spew it has voted for, if it could stay awake 24/7.

[woofie]

Oh my God ya mean the Dems voted for it?

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

Good point. Another reason to look over our respective Representatives and replace them with someone who does indeed represent us.

[deport]

Do you know if it is available in Spanish?

---

No sé

[Lower55]

Congress couldn't possibly read all the spew it has voted for,

No argument here.

[Kevin Curry]

Oh, that's right. Bush only signed the piece of crap legislation.

He's off the hook.

Thanks for straightening that out.

[HiTech RedNeck]

When Kevin Curry calls a jackboot legislation a "piece of crap" we KNOW it's got to be bad!

[MissAmericanPie]

Maybe you should look again, like in the Senate archives. Check out November 22, 2003, doh.

[Lower55]

Another reason to look over our respective Representatives and replace them with someone who does indeed represent us.

Excellent point. I hope Bush has coattails this next election.

[LPM1888]

That's proof enough for me, I'll be calling my Congressman and Senator tomorrow to see how they voted. If they didn't vote against this B.S. they can kiss my vote good by and their opponent just got a big campaign donation.

[HiTech RedNeck]

We can at best hope for a secondary effect from that, that most of the old liberals will dodder out of the SCOTUS and we will have a filibusterproof Senate that will affirm old-school conservatives ("family values") which will also put the nix to abominations like CFR and calling everything short of Mom and Pop's Donut Shop a "financial institution."

[Penner]

Everyone happy?

Even proponents of this expansion have expressed concern about these legislative tactics. "It's a problem that some of these riders that are added on may not receive the scrutiny that we would like to see," says St. Mary's Professor Robert Summers.

After reading this, I'm really happy.