A Constitutional disaster
The Nation
by Chip Pitts
10/21/05
While natural disasters in the Gulf Coast and the man-made disaster in Iraq continue to grab the public's attention, a constitutional disaster quietly threatens the nation. The USA Patriot Act's renewal is now almost a fait accompli -- accepted by all but the most steadfast civil libertarians in Congress. The House and Senate have separately voted to approve the law with only minor changes, and the final conference committee action and vote is expected within the next week or so. None of the provisions of the law that were slated to sunset now appear likely to do so. This law, enacted during a 'state of emergency' declared by President Bush and intended to be revisited in calmer times, is now effectively being made permanent. California Republican Representative Dana Rohrabacher has strongly objected to the reauthorization on this ground...
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051107/pitts
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
by Chip Pitts
10/21/05
While natural disasters in the Gulf Coast and the man-made disaster in Iraq continue to grab the public's attention, a constitutional disaster quietly threatens the nation. The USA Patriot Act's renewal is now almost a fait accompli -- accepted by all but the most steadfast civil libertarians in Congress. The House and Senate have separately voted to approve the law with only minor changes, and the final conference committee action and vote is expected within the next week or so. None of the provisions of the law that were slated to sunset now appear likely to do so. This law, enacted during a 'state of emergency' declared by President Bush and intended to be revisited in calmer times, is now effectively being made permanent. California Republican Representative Dana Rohrabacher has strongly objected to the reauthorization on this ground...
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051107/pitts
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 24. Okt, 18:30
