Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Patriot Act Provisions Dumped

The TEA Party folks simply don't like the Statist Security State.

A measure to extend key provisions of the Patriot Act counterterrorism surveillance law through December failed the House Tuesday night, with more than two-dozen Republicans bucking their party to oppose the measure.

...The measure would have extended three key provisions of the Patriot Act that are set to expire on Monday, Feb. 28, unless Congress moves to reauthorize them. One of the provisions authorizes the FBI to continue using roving wiretaps on surveillance targets; the second allows the government to access "any tangible items," such as library records, in the course of surveillance; and the third is a "lone wolf" provision of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act that allows for the surveillance of targets who are not connected to an identified terrorist group.

Sensenbrenner wanted to extend them 'temporarily.'

Oh, well. Maybe the Gummint can concentrate on fixing the National Debt for a while.

HT: Reason

3 comments:

Display Name said...

Hmm, there's another way to spin that.

computer support reston dc area said...

This is one of the most encouraging signs seen yet from the Tea Party. Directed my fair share of criticism toward the group, which I think was deserved. But more than happy to give credit where credit is due. Great to see some free thinking in the House, especially when it’s of the pro-liberty sort.

Anonymous said...

NOR are they keen on the House abortion bill charade. They were elected to create jobs, not preen in front of the mirror and spend their free time on Craigslist.