House Votes to Limit Patriot Act Reach

[dasmi]

Good for all of us. It's no one's damn business what books I buy or check out at a library. Like Nadler said, if you suspect I'm doing something wrong, get a warrant, otherwise, bite me.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/15/AR2005061501953_pf.html

House Votes to Limit Patriot Act Rules

By ANDREW TAYLOR
The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 15, 2005; 6:10 PM

WASHINGTON -- The House voted Wednesday to block the FBI and the Justice Department from using the Patriot Act to search library and book store records.

Despite a veto threat from President Bush, lawmakers voted 238-187 to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that allows the government to investigate the reading habits of terror suspects.

The vote reversed a narrow loss last year by lawmakers complaining about threats to privacy rights. They narrowed the proposal this year to permit the government to continue to seek out records of Internet use at libraries.

The vote came as the House debated a $57.5 billion bill covering the departments of Commerce, Justice and State. The Senate has yet to act on the measure, and GOP leaders often drop provisions offensive to Bush during final negotiations.

Congress is preparing to extend the Patriot Act, which was passed quickly in the emotional aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Then, Congress included a "sunset" provision under which 15 of the law's provisions are to expire at the end of this year.

Supporters of rolling back the library and bookstore provision said that the law gives the FBI too much leeway to go on "fishing expeditions" on people's reading habits and that innocent people could get tagged as potential terrorists based on what they check out from a library.

"If the government suspects someone is looking up how to make atom bombs, go to a court and get a search warrant," said Jerold Nadler, D-N.Y.

Supporters of the Patriot Act countered that the rules on reading records are a potentially useful tool in finding terrorists and argued that the House was voting to make libraries safe havens for them.

"If there are terrorists in libraries studying how to fly planes, how to put together biological weapons, how to put together chemical weapons, nuclear weapons ... we have to have an avenue through the federal court system so that we can stop the attack before it occurs," said Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Fla.

Last year, a similar provision was derailed by a 210-210 tie tally after several Republicans were pressured to switch their votes.
© 2005 The Associated Press

 

[lostone1413]

I voted for GWB twice but more and more he is taking are freedoms away. Another thing gettin me is the way he has forgot us gun owners. With a Republican in the White House and Republicans in control of both houses should be allot of pro gun bills passed. Don't see nothing being done for us! Think if I bother to vote anymore it will be for a third party. I for one am tired of the gun owners being sold out!

 

[dasmi]

Now you know. Never vote for one of the Big Two parties again.

 

[lostone1413]

Outside of Ron Paul I don't know of any friends the gun owners have in DC Way I see it is they are all traitors in both parties. Want you to believe we are fighting a war against the terrorist and 4K everyday just walk acrocc the border. GWB is a traitor plain and simple

 

[dolanp]

I know a lot like to rag on the Dems for their gun stance but a lot of the time it seems they help save our butts from the Republicans.

Since Der Bush will veto any such legislation I wonder if they'd be able to override.

 

[taliv]

this is a load of crap. we've been thrown a rotten bone.


who cares if the feds look at library records? that is the ABSOLUTE LEAST of the offensive portions of the "patriot act".

i would certainly like some privacy in a library, but to walk into a taxpayer-funded, public resource like a library and expect them to not know what you're reading is a bit daft.

for the Feds to absolutely GUT several ammendments and then say "ok, fine, we won't look at your book list" is unbelievably insulting.

This pathetic bill will not in any way make up for renewing the other provisions.

 

[dasmi]

Damn it, you're right. I was prematurely excited.

 

[Dwane]

Hi folks Im new here so forgive me ... but I am sure glad George W> Bush was in office on sept. 11 instead of Al Gore.

 

[dasmi]

Hi folks Im new here so forgive me ... but I am sure glad George W> Bush was in office on sept. 11 instead of Al Gore.

I was also, at first. But really, with all the crap Bush is pulling, would Gore have been any different?

 

[shermacman]

Welcome, Dwane!

May all of your posts be a correct, brilliant and accurate as your first. Some people get all emotional as time goes on. They think that al-Gore and Bush are the same. They get all caught up in an adolescent fantasy about purity. Then they transfer that fantasy to Ron Paul or Paul Ron or Ronnie Paulie or someone else that isn't ever going to win anything, ever.

Sad, really.

 

[lostone1413]

Gore Bush how would it make any difference? The 911 terrorist all but one was a Saudi. We go to war against Iraq. That makes sense. We have the Patroit Act that does nothing but take away are freedoms. Most people put the number at 4K per day just walking into the country. That makes sense. We haven't had one pro gun bill passed. I guess a president more concerned with letting Illegals in the country and taking away you freedoms wouldn't be to interested in getting any Pro 2nd amendment bills passed. Like I said I voted for GWB twice for now on only 3rd parties will I vote for if I even bother to vote. Now how is it we are so much better with GWB in the White House?

 

[Zrex]

House Votes to Limit Patriot Act Reach

House shouldn't have voted for this crap in the first place.

 

[coylh]

... but to walk into a taxpayer-funded, public resource like a library and expect them to not know what you're reading is a bit daft.

You might be surprised. "Patron privacy" is sacrosanct in most public library circles.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Despite a veto threat from President Bush...

He signs everything our elected misrepresentatives hand him.

 

[DRZinn]

Think if I bother to vote anymore it will be for a third party.

Welcome!

 

[KriegHund]

Ill be able to vote in time for the next election and ill remember to vote libertian most likely.

Bush was the lesser of two evils during the elections.

I simply belive hes better for us at the time than a Democrat...far better in some ways, way worse in others.

 

[DRZinn]

Ill be able to vote in time for the next election and ill remember to vote libertian most likely.

Welcome!