Senate bill would cut powers of Patriot Act

sorry if this is dupe ....first time I've seen it... We need to support this!!!

WASHINGTON - Wiretapping, search warrants, records seizures and other law enforcement tactics allowed by the Patriot Act would be scaled back under a bipartisan bill set to be introduced today in the Senate.

The bill, known as the Security and Freedom Enhancement Act, or SAFE Act, is sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Larry Craig, R-Idaho, Russell Feingold, D-Wis., and Ken Salazar, D-Colo.

They announced their proposal Tuesday after Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told senators that he would accept some modifications to the USA Patriot Act but urged that all its major provisions be renewed to effectively fight terrorism.

The SAFE Act would forbid roving wiretaps on unidentified subjects and permit secret searches only as long as they are used to investigate a set list of crimes. Current law includes what critics call a "catch-all phrase" that could be interpreted to include other crimes as well.

The bill also would change a section of the Patriot Act permitting secret warrants for "books, records, papers, documents and other items" from businesses, hospitals and other organizations.

more...

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/nation/story/892ED067810CC46B86256FDB000BCBCE?OpenDocument

Support this gang! Call your Senators to support this bill. And if one of these 4 is your Senator, make sure they hear from you that this is a positive first step.

I for one am not doing anything until I hear what the ACLU and similar watchdog groups think of this. If I'm not mistaken the ACLU had serious problems with this very same legislation not to long ago. Looks like a watered down patriot act to me.

I admit its better that the patriot act, however as far as I'm concerned, no American should have to give up ANY of our Civil Rights.

More research is required before I'm behind it. I've seen what happens when something that you think is good gets passed, but in reality the final result is entirely different.

I haven't agreed with everything he's done, especially not the Gonzalez nomination and the Bankruptcy bill vote, but thank you Ken.

in this hell brought on by ignorance

The insufferable arrogance....

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050405214914913

NBC News and news services
Updated: 12:16 p.m. ET April 5, 2005

WASHINGTON - FBI Director Robert Mueller on Tuesday asked lawmakers to expand the bureau’s ability to obtain records without first asking a judge, and he joined Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in seeking that every temporary provision of the anti-terrorism Patriot Act be renewed.

“Now is not the time for us to be engaging in unilateral disarmament” on the legal weapons now available for fighting terrorism, Gonzales, for his part, told senators.

He said that some of the most controversial provisions of the Patriot Act have proven invaluable in fighting terrorism and aiding other investigations. “It’s important that these authorities remain available,” Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Mueller said sections of the law that allow intelligence and law enforcement agencies to share information are especially important.


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We know how fond they are of shell games.

More input?

and how the koolaid pushers will use it to push the Patriot Act power expansions...

Whatever these bills are, I hope they insist on reading the fine print this time before they vote.

the more odious provisions of the so-called Patriot Act. I don't trust this administration to do anything for our good. Bad enough with Chimp squatting in the White House; even worse when Alberto Gonzalez is clearly the reincarnation of one of the more extreme inquisitors during the Salem Witch Hunts, and other acts of barbarity.

Maybe that would be best.

more ?