Congress Nears Deal to Renew Antiterror Law (ACLU/Conyers not happy)

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/17/politics/17patriot.html

Congress Nears Deal to Renew Antiterror Law

By ERIC LICHTBLAU Published: November 17, 2005

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 - Congressional negotiators neared a final agreement Wednesday night on legislation that will extend and keep largely intact the sweeping antiterrorism powers granted to the federal government after the Sept. 11 attacks under the law known as the USA Patriot Act.

After months of vitriolic debate, the tentative agreement represents a significant and somewhat surprising victory for the Bush administration in maintaining the government's expanded powers to investigate, monitor and track terror suspects.<snip>

The agreement ensures the extension of all 16 provisions of the law that were set to expire in six weeks. Fourteen will be extended permanently, and the remaining two - dealing with the government's demands for business and library records and its use of roving wiretaps - will be extended for seven years.

The agreement also includes a seven-year extension of a separate provision on investigating "lone wolf" terrorists.<snip>

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Called my Senators and urged a 'no' vote.

[papau]

2. Thanks - good idea! - I did the same!

:-)