Posted on 06/02/2015 7:05:47 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, the main author of the original Patriot Act, wrote an op-ed in 2013 explaining the NSA bulk collection of data belonging to Americans is an abuse of the legislation. In particular, Sensenbrenner slammed the Obama administration for abusing the Patriot Act in order to collect phone call information of all Americans, despite any ties to terrorism.
Last week, the Guardian reported that the Obama administration is collecting records of every call made to, from or within the US, as well as records of many digital communications. President Obama has tried to deflect criticism by claiming "every member of Congress has been briefed on this program." While some members of Congress were briefed – particularly those on the intelligence committees – most, including myself, were not.
The administration claims authority to sift through details of our private lives because the Patriot Act says that it can. I disagree. I authored the Patriot Act, and this is an abuse of that law.
I was the chairman of the House judiciary committee when the US was attacked on 11 September 2001. Five days later, the Justice Department delivered its proposal for new legislation. Although I, along with every other American, knew we had to strengthen our ability to combat those targeting our country, this version went too far. I believed then and now that we can defend our country and our liberty at the same time.
Now, with the latest developments over the weekend of NSA bulk data collection being shut down due to a lack of funding and agreement in the Senate, Sensenbrenner is speaking out about the original intent of the Patriot Act and detailing how we can move forward with new legislation, the USA Freedom Act, to keep Americans safe from terrorism at home and abroad.
video at link ...
More on the USA Freedom Act:
Purpose: To rein in the dragnet collection of data by the National Security Agency (NSA) and other government agencies, increase transparency of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), provide businesses the ability to release information regarding FISA requests, and create an independent constitutional advocate to argue cases before the FISC.
End bulk collection of Americans’ communications records
• The USA Freedom Act ends bulk collection under Section 215 of the Patriot Act.
• The bill would strengthen the prohibition on "reverse targeting" of Americans—that is, targeting a foreigner with the goal of obtaining communications involving an American.
• The bill requires the government to more aggressively filter and discard information about Americans accidentally collected through PRISM and related programs.
Reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
• The USA Freedom Act creates an Office of the Special Advocate (OSA) tasked with promoting privacy interests before the FISA court’s closed proceedings. The OSA will have the authority to appeal decisions of the FISA court.
• The bill creates new and more robust reporting requirements to ensure that Congress is aware of actions by the FISC and intelligence community as a whole.
• The bill would grant the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board subpoena authority to investigate issues related to privacy and national security.
Increase Transparency
• The USA Freedom Act would end secret laws by requiring the Attorney General to publicly disclose all FISC decisions issued after July 10, 2003 that contain a significant construction or interpretation of law.
• Under the bill, Internet and telecom companies would be allowed to publicly report an estimate of (1) the number of FISA orders and national security letters received, (2) the number of such orders and letters complied with, and (3) the number of users or accounts on whom information was demanded under the orders and letters.
• The bill would require the government to make annual or semiannual public reports estimating the total number of individuals and U.S. persons that were subject to FISA orders authorizing electronic surveillance, pen/trap devices, and access to business records.
National Security Letters
• The USA Freedom Act adopts a single standard for Section 215 and NSL protection to ensure the Administration doesn’t use different authorities to support bulk collection. It also adds a sunset date to NSLs requiring that Congress reauthorize the government’s authority thereby ensuring proper congressional review.
The legislation is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
What will happen is this level of monitoring will be made permanent. The scope will be increased.
Don’t question your government.
The option should never be allowed to exist.
The founders of this nation warned about this. If one researches, they wrote extensively about the dangers of expanding govt. They knew of its (govts) desire to expand and accumulate power.
They’ll take care of the no monitoring part today.
I have said this until I’m blue in the gills, but no one believes it.
The Patriot Act - as it was originally written - was done to correct the deliberate stupidity of the Clintonistas.
Problem was, it was assumed that it would only be used by responsible adults, and not Leftists.
Giving the Left, especially Obama those powers was like giving a chimp a hand grenade...
And it started in the late Bush years. With good conscience...maybe...but anyone with basic historical understanding would know this is way outside the scope of a limited government. Even if used correctly at first, it will be used for nefarious purposes before long.
True enough.
But given what the Clinontistas did (remember the quote “It’ll Take Years For Them To Undo What We’ve Done”), and GWB’s failure to purge the government of Leftists (his biggest failure), only the demolition hammer of the Patriot Act could’ve done the job.
It was also supposed to remove Jamie Gorelick’s “wall of separation” between the intelligence agencies that Clinton & Co had in place that prevented people from connecting the dots or even forwarding info that could have prevented 9/11.
Unfortunately, Obama & Co reinstituted something like Gorelick’s “wall”...but only in relation to Muslim Terrorists.
You and I?
Open season, full court spying.
Honestly, I didn’t have a problem with the ‘calls into and out of the USA’ part. It wasn’t ‘within’ until the Bamster was crowned. But of course, Bush is always blamed for whatever Bammy and his minions have done. Always take credit for good things and never take responsibility for bad things.......it’s the Bammy Way.
THANK YOU - someone else remembers Jamie Gore-lick!
Tell me how it was possible to have Janet Reno’s deputy on the same commission that told us 9-11 was Bush’s Fault©?
As usual this bill does not go far enough but its a start. Of course now the FBI will be picking up the slack with their spy planes flying around everywhere.
I believe that we are in agreement on this. We also agree that there must be a clear and unmovable line drawn to restrict the spying to only terrorist activities which are specifically supported by evidence.
Who trusts 'Government' to do this with respect for the liberty of its citizens?
I live in fear that obozo will resurrect her for some position. Hopefully the money she made at Freddie Mae or Mac or whatever will keep her out of our hair forever more!
I still have no idea why that braindead bat was on the 9-11 commission.
[Typed “Omission” originally.. which may be more accurate to describe those morons.]
No, The Law Was Never Intended to Collect Data On All Americans
until Obama
Sadly, the leadership we have is horrifically unworthy of their positions, they do not take the Constitution seriously, nor do they respect what our country was founded on.
Pretty much, any attempt to wall off spying on the population and limiting the spying to actual honest freaking terrorists will be turned around every time.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3295962/posts
Like that.
True Dat! But they act retired by drinking vodka, preying upon women, sunning on the beach ... while 'employed' in office!
EXHIBIT A: The Swimmer
Proof positive this guy occupying to oval office is out of control.
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.