House Takes Aim At Patriot Act Secret Searches

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>>>The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to roll back a key provision, which allows the government to conduct secret "sneak and peek" searches of private property, of a sweeping anti-terrorism law passed soon after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The House voted 309-118 to attach the provision to a $37.9 billion bill funding the departments of Commerce, State and Justice. It would be the first change in the controversial USA Patriot Act since the law was enacted in October, 2001.

This is the first step of our thousand mile journey of reclaiming our Freedom here people. You should be proud of this moment and use it as a reminder that to be Free, means taking back our responsibility and awareness. Then making wise choices for the benifit of all.

about time

posted on 22-7-2003 at 01:50 PM Post Number: 122781 edit quote report
I have lived and worked all over this land. Politically I find Alaska to be superior, its lack of population and expanse of space make interdependancy a requirement of survival and one listens to what he hears. The legislature here responds immeadiately to the voice it hears, it has to.
Points of interest
we have more vets per capita than any other state
the military spends more per capita here than any other state
we have the smallest population except for Wyoming
democracy thrives in Alaska more than any other state I have lived in

We are proud of our freedom and our military for we are the military and we are free here

Do not confuse politicis, right or left, with patriotisim. And do not assume politicians are patriotic or american. They are in it for the money otherwise they would be in the military or working for a living.
In closing this is no time to make mistakes or enimies.

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Toughen Patriot Act, attorney general says
CONTROVERSY: Law gives government broader powers for searches, monitoring phones.


By KATIE PESZNECKER and NICOLE TSONG
Anchorage Daily News

(Published: July 22, 2003)

United States Attorney General John Ashcroft told federal and local officials Monday the USA Patriot Act should be expanded, not softened, even as protesters gathered nearby and the Anchorage Assembly and state Legislature have passed resolutions protesting the national anti-terrorism law.

Ashcroft charged critics with misconstruing a law that he said broadens the government's ability to nab terrorists. He would like to amplify those powers, he said.

"This is not something novel or new or different," Ashcroft said. "The Patriot Act is simply a way to extend a robust set of tools." etc........................

The act lowers legal standards for government agents to listen to private telephone calls or search homes. It also grants federal authorities wider access to citizens' personal medical, financial and school records, library records and bookstore purchases.

Congress passed it in the emotional weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But since then, roughly 150 local and state governments have passed resolutions protesting the act. The Alaska Legislature in May nearly unanimously passed a resolution telling local and state law enforcement to refuse to help federal agents pursuing activities approved by the act.

Last week, the Anchorage Assembly adopted a resolution requesting that Anchorage police and other city agencies refuse to help federal agents in ways that violate "the rights and liberties guaranteed equally under the state and federal constitutions."
etc..................

UAA graduate student Sol Neely was openly enthusiastic about the resolutions passed by the Anchorage Assembly and the state Legislature. Alaskans are politically conservative but respect civil rights, he said.

"That makes me very proud to be in Anchorage," Neely said.

Assemblyman Allan Tesche, who sponsored last week's Anchorage resolution, said most feedback he has heard on his resolution is positive. Expanding the Patriot Act further would be a mistake, he said.

"Before we further ratchet down on civil liberties, we need to look at (the Patriot Act) and how it has been implemented ," said Tesche, an attorney. "The overwhelming number of people support what we did. So I'm really proud to stand with the Legislature. We have done exactly the right thing."

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Originally posted by tututkamen
Do not confuse politicis, right or left, with patriotisim. And do not assume politicians are patriotic or american. They are in it for the money otherwise they would be in the military or working for a living.
In closing this is no time to make mistakes or enimies.

Well said, Tut!

Diva