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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 04/09/2003 8:21:51 AM PDT by TLBSHOW
Patriot Act To Be Made Permanent? By Report by J.J. Johnson
WASHINGTON, April 8 - According to the New York Times , Congressional Republicans are working to make permanent the sweeping antiterrorism powers given to federal law enforcement agents after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The Times reports that the move is likely to touch off strong objections from many Democrats and even some Republicans in Congress who believe that the Patriot Act, as the legislation that grew out of the attacks is known, has already given the government too much power to spy on Americans. If you recall, it was only passed with the agreement there would be a sunshine clause inserted, where Congress would have to review the act in 2005.
The legislation expanded the government's power to use eavesdropping, surveillance, access to financial and computer records and other tools to track terrorist suspects, clearly testing the limits of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution. It has been on the books since October of 2001.
The times said the move to repeal the ‘sunset’ clause was crafted by one Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah. Republicans may seek to move on the proposal this week by trying to attaching it to another antiterrorism bill that would make it easier for the government to use secret surveillance warrants against "lone wolf" terrorism suspects.
Bear in mind that while the New York Times laid on this on Hatch, the Utah Senator made no comment on the record. Nor has any other republican. Democrats, needless to say, aren’t too happy about it. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), predicted that Republicans lacked the votes to repeal the limits.
The Times also wrote that Justice Department officials credited the Patriot Act with allowing the F.B.I. to move with greater speed and flexibility to disrupt terrorist operations before they occur, and they say they wanted to see the 2005 time limit on the legislation lifted.
"The Patriot Act has been an extremely useful tool, a demonstrated success, and we don't want that to expire on us," a senior department official said on condition of anonymity.
Another senior official who also demanded anonymity said the department had held discussions with Congressional Republicans about how that might best be accomplished. "Our involvement has really been just keeping an open ear to the issue as it's proceeding, not to really guide the debate," the official said.
Again, notice how no one wanted to go on the record about this. Debate is expected, but months away. The Sierra Times suggests, consider this New York Times story an official ‘trial balloon’ to gauge the public reaction. Chances of the sunshine clause being lifted is slim at best - unless another major terrorist attack happens before then
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Yes. It would be intolerable to let the Govt. have that kind of Police power permanently.
SO9
Just like TIA and TIPS ... whoops, those got nuked. What is done can also be undone - and, with sunset provisions, it won't take an override of a presidential veto to eventually get rid of these provisons - hence the need to not allow this action of making the Patriot Act permanent to happen.
Gee, I seem to recall the NY Times recently neglecting to include a couple of key words to a statement by General William Wallace to create a story that wasn't there. Let's wait on this one, folks, until we see it from a more credible source than the NY Times, such as Debka...
Justice was going to just implement TIPS on their own. Dick Armey inserted a section into the Homeland Security Act that prohibited TIPS.
We need to press Hatch for verification. The entire story is based on a NY Times story, so color me skeptical until I hear it from Hatch or see legislation introduced.
Thanks for the ping, I saw it on a self-search. Look at the source of your article - there is NO statement from Hatch on this. Let's not go apesh** quite yet - it is well within character for the NY Times, having had it's butt kicked by the results of the Iraq War, to immediately create another bogus story to start a new line of attack on the Bush Admin.
This MUST NOT STAND!
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