Authority to Spy on Americans Unclear as Patriot Act Expires [abc News]

[ZombieHorde]

By ELIZABETH GORMAN

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sunsetting-provisions-patriot-act-revives-privacy-debate/story?id=9173895&page=1">abc News

The article offers a decent summary of the three provisions which are about to expire, various viewpoints, and some interesting links. The article is worth reading in its entirety.

eta this is not a dupe, this article contains much more information and decent links.

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Rushed into law by Congress just weeks after Sept. 11, 2001 three controversial provisions of the Patriot Act granting officials far-reaching surveillance and seizure powers in the name of national security, are due to expire this New Year's Eve.

Two differing bills passed by the House and Senate judiciary committees in recent weeks will have to be reconciled in Congress, but only when the Senate isn't backlogged by health care, Democratic aides told ABC News.

"This critical legislation protects our national security, as well as our civil liberties, and the clock is ticking," said Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc., an author of President Bush's 2001 Patriot Act and former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee during the Bush administration. Sensenbrenner urged the House and Senate to act quickly in reauthorizing the provisions before they expire at the end of this year.

That timing is unclear. With so few weeks left in the year and the health care debate just beginning in the Senate, it's possible that Congress will first vote for a temporary extension to prevent certain Patriot Act authorities from sunsetting, according to an aide.

[rocktivity]

1. NO DOMESTIC SPYING WITHOUT A WARRANT!

What part of that are they having such a hard time understanding? And who is the aide that dare not speak his or her name?

:mad:
rocktivity

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. Badges?

We don't need no stinking badges!

[TexasObserver]

3. Recommend

[davidpdx]

4. So did they pass it yet? Congress is now in recess

And both chambers will have to vote on the reconciled version. The House comes back on Jan 18th, Senate 25th. That would mean the bill couldn't hit the President's desk until after the 25th (assuming it hasn't been passed).

[ProSense]

5. That article is from Nov. 30. It was extended

House Votes To Briefly Extend Overbroad Patriot Act Provisions

December 16, 2009
Congress Will Debate Expiring Provisions And Changes To The Act Next Year

WASHINGTON – The House voted today for a 60-day extension of three expiring Patriot Act provisions. The extension came as part of the Defense Department Appropriations Act, which the Senate is expected to pass in the coming week. The expiring provisions of the Patriot Act – the John Doe roving wiretap provision, Section 215 or the “library records” provision and the never before used “lone wolf” provision – all lack proper privacy safeguards. They were up for renewal this year and would have expired on December 31 if Congress did not take action. The provisions will be extended through February 28, 2010.

The following can be attributed to Michael Macleod-Ball, Acting Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office:

“It is disappointing that Congress could not make reforming the Patriot Act a priority this year. Upon the House’s return next year, we urge them to debate and vote on the USA Patriot Amendments Act, a bill that goes much further in protecting Americans’ civil liberties than its counterparts in the Senate. We genuinely hope that Congress will use the next two months wisely for the kind of vigorous debate Americans’ privacy deserves.”