Conyers: Patriot Act Becomes An Anti-Civil Liberties Christmas Tree

[MelissaB]

Patriot Act Becomes An Anti-Civil Liberties Christmas Tree

by Congressman John Conyers
Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 03:49:44 PM PDT
Last week I wrote to you about the Patriot Act conference. Many of you asked for an update. Here it is and it is not good.

Early today, Republican sources began preemptively leaking descriptions of the conference report to various media outlets. The spin has been that this conference report represents a step forward for civil liberties. Now that I have seen the conference report, I can tell you that it does not.

Congressman John Conyers's diary :: ::
Before I describe its contents, a word about procedure going forward. The House is likely to take up the bill as early as Thursday morning, and the Senate soon thereafter. There is not much time.

Throughout the conference, Democrats were excluded from negotiations about the bill, but the Bush Administration Justice Department was included. It is bizarre to say the least for a conference that is supposed to be between elected representatives to exclude those representatives and instead include a group with a vested interest in the bill -- the Justice Department. No similar access was provided for the American Civil Liberities Union or Americans for Tax Reform, groups with concerns about the Act.

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/16/174944/46

When can we have our country back?


Edited to change title to article title.

[atommom]

1. Thanks for the update. It ISN'T good.

[tavalon]

2. When can we have our country back?

When we take it back.

[MelissaB]

3. .

morning kick for those who missed it.