House, Senate Agree on Patriot Act

[sabra]

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=72968

House, Senate Agree on Patriot Act


WASHINGTON (AP) -- House and Senate negotiators on Thursday reached an agreement to reauthorize the USA Patriot Act, the government's premier anti-terrorism law, before its major provisions expire at the end of the month, government aides said.

The agreement would extend for now two of the Patriot Act's most controversial provisions -- authorizing roving wiretaps and permitting secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries. Those two provisions would expire in four years under the deal.

The Republican-controlled House had been pushing for those provisions to stay in effect as long as a decade, but negotiators decided to go with the GOP-controlled Senate's suggestion. Republican and Democratic Senate aides confirmed the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not yet been made.

An official announcement was expected Thursday morning by Senate Judiciary chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa. Top Judiciary Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont has not yet decided whether to support the agreement, a spokesman said.

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Just heard this on radio...anyone know the vote count? n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Hasn't come to a vote. This is the negotiated version in committee.

[wtbymark]

2. Damnit!

[merwin]

3. If Leahy hasn't decided whether to support it, there probably hasn't been

a vote yet.

[OneBlueSky]

5. preseving American ideals by trashing them . . . unique concept . . .

kinda like destroying the village to save it . . .

[UpInArms]

18. George, John and Osama - like 3 peas in a pod

http://www.americaheldhostile.com/ed120801.shtml

excerpt:

We have the USA Patriot Act, drawn and enlarged upon by Mr. Ashcroft, that is in violation of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Thirteenth Amendments of the Bill of Rights. In the eyes of Bush and Ashcroft our Constitutional freedoms and the Bill of Rights mean nothing. This is what the actions of Mr. Bush and Mr. Ashcroft are telling us. If you agree, nothing need be done. That's the path that we (the United States) are taking. Congress and its lawmakers have no voice in these decisions and thus, you the represented public are allowed no voice either.

Mr. Bush and Mr. Ashcroft have decided that those freedoms that have made us a unique and special country are the very things that we Americans must relinquish in order to protect them. Somehow their logic escapes me. How can we be "free" if we give up our freedoms? How can one lose the very rights that set their country apart from all others and still remain the same?

...more...

[rodeodance]

6. crapola!

[Benhurst]

7. After another four more years under the Bush police state, they

should have no trouble making even the most repressive laws permanent.

Land of the Free. Home of the Brave. Yeah. Sure.

[VegasWolf]

8. After 4 more years the US will be largely irrelevant on the world's stage.

[realFedUp]

9. while sugar plums dance in our heads....

and we're arguing over what Democrat is speaking the truth.

Wake up people. Congress is still in session and this is
just another crack in the dam.

From yahoo:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051208/ap_on_go_co/patriot_act;_ylt=AtEv5aClCZwTy8NErJUfevms0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

House, Senate Reach Deal on Patriot Act

By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer 9 minutes ago

House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement Thursday to extend the USA Patriot Act, the government's premier anti-terrorism law, before its major provisions expire at the end of the month.

"All factors considered it's reasonably good, not perfect, but it's acceptable," said Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, as he announced the deal.

The agreement would extend for four years two of the Patriot Act's most controversial provisions — authorizing roving wiretaps and permitting secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries. Those provisions would expire in four years unless Congress acts on them again.

Also extended for four years are standards for monitoring "lone wolf" terrorists who may be operating independent of a foreign agent or power. While not part of the Patriot Act, officials considered that along with the Patriot Act provisions.

The Republican-controlled House had been pushing for those provisions to stay in effect as long as a decade, but negotiators decided to go with the GOP-controlled Senate's suggestion.

Most of the Patriot Act becomes permanent under the reauthorization.

[VegasWolf]

10. Which "Democrats" besides Lieberman will vote for this? nt

:sarcasm:

[petgoat]

11. Feingold is planning a filibuster, and most of the MSM seem to

be painting the extension as a done deal.

We should be agitating for our reps to support Feingold!

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

12. House, Senate Reach Deal on Patriot Act

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051208/ap_on_go_co/patriot_act

By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer
17 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement Thursday to extend the USA Patriot Act, the government's premier anti-terrorism law, before it expires at the end of the month. But a Democratic senator threatened a filibuster to block the compromise.

"I will do everything I can, including a filibuster, to stop this Patriot Act conference report, which does not include adequate safeguards to protect our constitutional freedoms," said Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), D-Wis., who was the only senator to vote against the original version of the Patriot Act.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., announced Thursday that a House-Senate negotiating committee had reached an agreement that would extend for four years two of the Patriot Act's most controversial provisions — authorizing roving wiretaps and permitting secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries. Those provisions would expire in four years unless Congress acts on them again. "All factors considered it's reasonably good, not perfect, but it's acceptable," Specter said of the agreement.

[chaplainM]

13. Underhanded tactic

I've heard that this is a favorite tactic by the congressional Republicans:

1. Make sure that different bills pass each house.
2. Rewrite the "reconciled" bill in secret, with no Democratic participation, adding whatever advances the Right wing agenda, e.g, union-busting provisions.
3. Bring the "reconciled" bill to the floor for an up-or-down vote, with NO AMENDMENTS allowed.


Since these bills normally contain popular provisions, it's difficult for principled legislators to vote against them.

[CaptAhab]

14. Re: Underhanded tactic

And I'm sure the Democrats won't filibuster, because they are saving the filibuster for the next battle, while the Constitution and our rights are being dismantled and trampled upon.

[Angry Girl]

16. No kidding. Funny how that "next battle" never comes, huh?

Welcome to DU, Ahab!

[fshrink]

15. So the deal is:

4 years violation of constitutional rights instead of 10. Can any of our "leaders" explain how this is a "deal" and what exactly they fought for? No. And by the way, endorsing the mere name of it is already an enormous concession. Might as well call this neo-fascist set of laws the "Happiness Act" or, after all, the "Freedom Act".

[Straight Shooter]

17. When I check out books at the library, I get a mixed selection.

The Feds will never figure me out by my choices. I check out books I'll never read, just to mess with their minds. Choosing books about "God" and "Christianity" helps to mellow out the ones on homicide forensics, I believe.

[leftchick]

19. House, Senate Agree to Extend Patriot Act

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051209/ap_on_go_co/patriot_act


WASHINGTON - Key Republicans from the House and Senate reached a White House-backed compromise Thursday to renew the broad powers granted to law enforcement agencies in the days after the 2001 terrorist attacks on American soil.

GOP leaders pledged to pass the Patriot Act extension for President Bush's signature by the holidays, although bipartisan criticism flared. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., threatened to filibuster a bill he said lacked adequate safeguards to protect constitutional freedoms.

"We hammered out what I think is a good bill. ... Not a perfect bill, but a good bill," said Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who announced the compromise at a news conference in the Capitol.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the measure would assist "in the detection, disruption and dismantling of terrorist cells before they strike."

Important parts involve the ability of law enforcement officials to gain access to a wealth of personal data, including library records, as part of investigations into suspected terrorist activity

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

20. scum dealers

all of them.

[acmejack]

21. They have truly wreaked havoc on the people today.

Amerika, what a country!

[Angry Girl]

22. No oversight + absolute power = repressive totalitarian regime

And under the cover of "Democracy"

Makes dictators everywhere envious.

[feelthebreeze]

23. This has not yet come to a vote, not a done deal...

filibuster still a possibility.

[Daphne08]

24. How long before innocent Americans will be hurt by this?

How long? :grr:

[VegasWolf]

25. Any Dem who votes FOR this better kiss any Presidential aspirations

GoooooodddBBByyyyeee!!!! Donkeys have long memories too!