[IP] Weekly column: Patriot Act redux as Congress considers 9/11 bills [priv]
Begin forwarded message:
From: Declan McCullagh <declan@xxxxxxxx>
Date: October 18, 2004 10:05:34 AM EDT
To: politech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Politech] Weekly column: Patriot Act redux as Congress
considers 9/11 bills [priv]
http://news.com.com/Patriot+Act+redux/2010-1071_3-5414087.html
Patriot Act redux?
October 18, 2004, 4:00 AM PT
By Declan McCullagh
With Election Day fast approaching, it was only a matter of time before
the usual congressional shenanigans that typically punctuate the
political season.
This time, politicians appear to have seized on what could be called
the Patriot Act strategy, drafting antiterrorism legislation in secret
and then ramming it through the Senate and House of Representatives
with minimal debate. Then it's back to the home districts to boast how
they protected voters from the bad guys.
The vehicles chosen for this strategy are two bills described as being
inspired by the 9/11 Commission's report, a politically potent text
that's become a best-selling book. The Senate and House have approved
their own versions of the legislation, and negotiators are now meeting
privately to decide on the final draft.
Early indications are not promising. While portions of the massive
legislation are no doubt praiseworthy, other important
sections--especially those envisioning stuffing more information into
government databases--deserve special scrutiny from privacy hawks.
[...]
A last-minute amendment added by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would
require the Department of Homeland Security to create an "integrated
screening system" inside the United States.
McCain envisions erecting physical checkpoints, dubbed "screening
points," near subways, airports, bus stations, train stations, federal
buildings, telephone companies, Internet hubs and any other "critical
infrastructure" facility deemed vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
[...remainder snipped...]
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