House votes to extend Patriot Act (legislation, Zen)

jewscout · #1 07-22-2005, 10:16 AM

House votes to extend Patriot Act

WASHINGTON -- The House voted Thursday to extend the USA Patriot Act, the nation's main anti-terrorism tool, just hours after televisions in the Capitol beamed images of a new attack in London.

As similar legislation worked its way through the Senate, House Republicans generally cast the law as a valuable asset in the war on terror. Most Democrats echoed that support but said they were concerned the law could allow citizens' civil liberties to be infringed.

After more than nine hours of debate, the House approved the measure 257-171. Forty-three Democrats joined 214 Republicans in voting to renew key provisions of the Patriot Act that were set to expire at the end of the year.

'The threat has not receded'

The bulk of the back-and-forth centered on language making permanent 14 of 16 provisions that had four-year sunset provisions under the original law, which Congress passed overwhelmingly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The bill has 10-year extensions to the two other provisions set to expire on Dec. 31, one allowing roving wiretaps and another allowing searches of library and medical records. ''While the Patriot Act and other anti-terrorism initiatives have helped avert additional attacks on our soil, the threat has not receded,'' said Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect...patriot22.html

ch'ang · #2 07-22-2005, 12:28 PM

People spend way to much time and money worrying about terrorists when they are more likely to die falling down the stairs or from crashing their car on the way to work.

Feathers in Hair · #3 07-22-2005, 01:19 PM

Somebody hide me? *whimpers quietly* I was hoping this wouldn't happen.

Shadow Wolf · #4 07-22-2005, 02:45 PM

Maybe we should all grab the torches and pitchforks and head for Washington. Kill the monster that is our President.

Oops, did I say that out loud?

Hope the feds didn't hear that.

chuckles1028 · #5 07-22-2005, 04:13 PM

This Patriot Act is just another way of the government using 911 to gain more power. People are still vulnerable about terrorism and allow the government to invade our privacy. All we need to do is hire more law enforcers and keep on fixing our intelligence.

Melody · #6 07-22-2005, 05:44 PM

It just makes me want to scream.

Jaymes · #7 07-22-2005, 05:52 PM

You're all just a bunch of sissy liberals! The Patriot Act could never be abused! You all just want to find a reason to hate the President!

... is the exact opposite of how I feel. Let me hide with you, Feathers?

Shadow Wolf · #8 07-23-2005, 12:36 AM

I should make a flash video that portrays Bush and congress as some old, black and white movie monster, and all the people grab thier pitch forks, torches, etc., and head for the white house.

If Bush does something to somehow be elected a third time, Im gonna move to Canada.

Feathers in Hair · #9 07-25-2005, 02:43 PM

Jensa, when I find a good hiding spot, you and anyone else who wants to can join me! (But you, especially, since you're very cool.)

Fluffy · #10 07-26-2005, 11:07 AM

Quote:

You're all just a bunch of sissy liberals! The Patriot Act could never be abused! You all just want to find a reason to hate the President!

... is the exact opposite of how I feel. Let me hide with you, Feathers? [img]images/smilies/frown.gif[/img]

Lol you had me worried for a second then not least because it sounded so different from your others posts that I was like "Who are you and what have you done with the real Jensa"

.

Who wants to hum the evil Star Wars tune with me? Or the one that plays whilst Chancellor Palpatine gets his new political powers? *Dun Dun Dun Dun-de-Dun Dun-de-Dun..."