Posted on 12/20/2005 10:57:36 PM PST by Libloather
Antiterrorism law may expire; Congress debates
Tue Dec 20, 2005 7:48 PM ET
By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican leaders on Tuesday appeared ready to let key provisions of a U.S. antiterrorism law expire and blamed Democrats who have blocked a renewal in a bid for more civil-liberties safeguards.
If these provisions of the USA Patriot Act expire on December 31, as scheduled, the Republican-led Senate could take another crack at renewing them as soon as Congress begins a new year in January, aides said.
Democrats, who are using a procedural maneuver known as a filibuster to block renewal, have proposed a three-month extension to provide time to resolve differences. But the White House and Republican congressional leaders have rejected such a move.
"Those on the Senate floor who are filibustering the Patriot Act are killing the Patriot Act," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican.
The act is a centerpiece of U.S. President George W. Bush's war on terrorism. Debate over renewing the provisions has escalated with revelations last week that Bush authorized spying without warrants on Americans suspected of having ties to terrorists.
Provisions up for renewal include ones involving wiretaps, access to business records and information-sharing by law enforcement and intelligence authorities.
The House of Representatives last week voted to renew the provisions, but that bill has been blocked in the Republican-led Senate.
Republican leaders have turned down a temporary extension, saying the proposed renewal would make improvements in civil liberties. Critics say the improvements are insufficient.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said, "The president says he wants to fight the terrorists, but his political stunt with the Patriot Act suggests he's more interested in scoring political points."
"Extend it, don't end it," said Reid. He said a majority of the Senate would back a temporary extension if Republican leaders allowed a vote on it.
Republicans aides noted that a majority of the Senate backs final congressional approval of the House-approved renewal.
A bid to end the procedural roadblock and move to passage of the measure fell eight votes short of the needed 60 in the 100-member Senate last week, with a few Republicans joining most Democrats in opposing it.
Frist said, "I've made it very clear where I stand. I'm opposed to opposed to (temporary) extensions."
"Why leadership on the other side would celebrate killing the Patriot Act, I don't understand it," Frist said.
I think I heard some sort of vote is supposed to happen Thursday.
The GOP is the stupid party. If this doesn't call for the 'nuclear option' then nothing ever will.
Laura Ingraham calls him Doctor Smith. She's refering to the turn-coat on Lost in Space. Actually, it's a pretty good fit.
It's a small pleasure, but I'm going to enjoy the whining from Dems in 2006 and 2008 about how unfair it is to say they're not supporting the war on terror.
Why does she feel that way?
For those interested, here is a link to the Patriot Act:
http://www.library.umass.edu/subject/patriotact/
I believe there are several paragraphs that should be amended, however, without the Patriot Act, we step back to Gorelick behavior, which is unacceptable given who our enemy is - islamojihadists.
Losing the P/A and most of what's in it is dangerous to this country. I don't see anything that affects law abiding citizens in any negative way at all. Maybe I missed things when I went through but it sounds good to me. Patriot Act or more acts of terror? Not a choice at all.
Dr Smith on Lost in Space was a devious backstabber. He was always doing something that would endanger the Robinson family. Ried seems to do much the same thing with regard to the nation IMO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.