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Republicans Try to Sneak in Patriot Act Additions - Now

By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Mon Sep 27, 2004 at 08:37:28 AM EST
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Here it comes. Just in time for the looming election. Republicans are attempting to pass significant additions to the Patriot Act via hurried proceedings in the Senate, including provisions from last year's Patriot Act II. The chances are good they will succeed. Their goal is to have the legislation, S. 2679, the "Tools to Fight Terrorism Act of 2004, signed by Bush before November 2. For more, and for what you can do to protest, visit here:

ACLU: here and here.

"Instead of considering new laws to further erode our privacy and freedoms, the Senate should be reviewing the Patriot Act to bring it in line with the Constitution."

The opposition to that point of view is organizing. Read about the letter from law enforcement types in today's Washington Times supporting The Patriot Act. The names on the list alone are frightening--Ted Olson, Rudy Giuiliani. And they've formed a new group--"Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law."

Let's not let Congress pass another law without adequate time for relection and open debate. Act in haste, repent at leisure.

As the ACLU wrote in its letter to Congress:

T]he Patriot Act . . . vested substantial new powers in the investigative agencies of the government. Some of the most controversial provisions of the Patriot Act are to "sunset" at the end of 2005. . . . Because of concerns regarding the shifting balance of power to the government, we think that a full and informed debate on the Patriot Act would be healthy.

Recommendation: The burden of proof for retaining a particular governmental power should be on the executive, to explain (a) that the power actually materially enhances security and (b) that there is adequate supervision of the executive's use of the powers to ensure protection of civil liberties. If the power is granted, there must be adequate guidelines and oversight to properly confine its use.

Congress should follow the 9/11 Commission's recommendation. Thorough hearings must explore the use of existing PATRIOT Act powers, and the government should be required to meet the standard of the 9/11 Commission to show powers are needed.

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