Post by Moses on May 21, 2004 15:51:36 GMT -5
Problems for PATRIOT? <br>
The Hill reported recently that a group "of libertarian-minded Republicans in Congress is blocking President Bush's effort to strengthen domestic counterterrorism laws and reauthorize the USA Patriot Act, which the president has made one of his top domestic priorities this year. As a result of this opposition, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, was forced last week to cancel panel consideration of legislation that would have given law-enforcement officials more tools to pursue suspected terrorists." Jeff Lungren, "a spokesman for the Judiciary Committee, said "work on the Sensenbrenner bill was canceled last week because committee Democrats had demanded more time to examine it." Lungren emphasized that it was not related to the Patriot Act. But a group of lawmakers, including some Republicans, saw it differently. One GOP lawmaker on the panel - who asked to remain anonymous to avoid angering the chairman - said Republicans had also objected to the legislation. The lawmaker added that Sensenbrenner had informed his GOP colleagues the panel would consider the measure shortly before the scheduled markup." Last week's "minirebellion is symptomatic of broader opposition among Republicans in the House and Senate to provisions of the Patriot Act that the administration has deemed essential to its battle against terrorism."
The Hill reported recently that a group "of libertarian-minded Republicans in Congress is blocking President Bush's effort to strengthen domestic counterterrorism laws and reauthorize the USA Patriot Act, which the president has made one of his top domestic priorities this year. As a result of this opposition, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, was forced last week to cancel panel consideration of legislation that would have given law-enforcement officials more tools to pursue suspected terrorists." Jeff Lungren, "a spokesman for the Judiciary Committee, said "work on the Sensenbrenner bill was canceled last week because committee Democrats had demanded more time to examine it." Lungren emphasized that it was not related to the Patriot Act. But a group of lawmakers, including some Republicans, saw it differently. One GOP lawmaker on the panel - who asked to remain anonymous to avoid angering the chairman - said Republicans had also objected to the legislation. The lawmaker added that Sensenbrenner had informed his GOP colleagues the panel would consider the measure shortly before the scheduled markup." Last week's "minirebellion is symptomatic of broader opposition among Republicans in the House and Senate to provisions of the Patriot Act that the administration has deemed essential to its battle against terrorism."