Patriot Act

[coloradodem2005]

Last Week, Bush said that the Patriot Act must be made permanent. I assume he meant all parts, including the contraversial parts of the act as well. Could somebody verify this?

[saltpoint]

1. The Congress will have its say when Bush --

-- tries to make this permanent. I hope the Democrats and moderate Republicans challenge him on this. Librarians have already resolved to resist it.

Bush drew fire from the Democrats when he brought it upin his address. He'll have to fight pretty hard for what he wants.

Even William Saffire is against it, and he's no wild liberal.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Of course Bush wants all of the Patriot Act permanent. Some controversial

Of course Bush wants all of the Patriot Act permanent.

And some controversial parts of the Patriot Act don't have a sunset/expiration date, including section 216, which lets the govt spy on our web-surfing (non-content) and email (subject lines and who from and to) based on law-enforcement saying that it's part of an ongoing investigation (no probable cause, no evidence it's necessary for an investigation, judge must rubber-stamp).



SEC. 216. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO USE OF PEN REGISTERS AND TRAP AND TRACE DEVICES.

(a) GENERAL LIMITATIONS- Section 3121(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting `or trap and trace device' after `pen register';
(2) by inserting `, routing, addressing,' after `dialing'; and
(3) by striking `call processing' and inserting `the processing and transmitting of wire or electronic communications so as not to include the contents of any wire or electronic communications'.

(b) ISSUANCE OF ORDERS-
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 3123(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`(a) IN GENERAL-
`(1) ATTORNEY FOR THE GOVERNMENT- Upon an application made under section 3122(a)(1), the court shall enter an ex parte order authorizing the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device anywhere within the United States, if the court finds that the attorney for the Government has certified to the court that the information likely to be obtained by such installation and use is relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation. The order, upon service of that order, shall apply to any person or entity providing wire or electronic communication service in the United States whose assistance may facilitate the execution of the order. Whenever such an order is served on any person or entity not specifically named in the order, upon request of such person or entity, the attorney for the Government or law enforcement or investigative officer that is serving the order shall provide written or electronic certification that the order applies to the person or entity being served.