Originally published April 26 2005
Senators want to tone done the Patriot Act
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Four senators are sponsoring a bill to reduce the government's ability to perform the secret wiretaps and record searches that are permitted by the Patriot Act. Rather than allowing law enforcement to perform roving wiretaps and search everything from hospital to library records secretly, the Security and Freedom Enhancement (SAFE) Act would put limits on these forms of surveillance. The Patriot Act was passed in response to the Sept. 11 attacks in order to help law enforcement investigate suspected terrorists. However, a so-called "catch-all phrase" in the act gives law enforcement almost free rein to investigate people, raising concerns about civil liberties.
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.
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.
While it does not specifically mention bookstores or libraries, critics say the government could use it to subpoena library and bookstore records and snoop into the reading habits of innocent Americans.
Durbin said he is optimistic that Gonzales - attorney general since early February - will be more open to changes than his predecessor, John Ashcroft.
Gonzales told the panel he would be "open to any ideas" on changing the Patriot Act but urged Congress to renew 15 provisions set to expire in December, calling the measures "essential weapons in our arsenal to combat the terrorists."
"Now is not the time for us to be engaging in unilateral disarmament," he said.
His willingness to listen is a big step forward, Durbin said.
"I think we ought to reach out in good faith to the attorney general and the Department of Justice, and see if we can come to some agreements on some changes," Durbin said.
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