http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/25/washington/25cnd-detain.html?hp&ex=1159243200&en=be5f88bd4c01eb3e&ei=5094&partner=homepageSenate Panel Debates Detainee Bill
By JOHN O’NEIL
Published: September 25, 2006
Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee sought to slow down the effort by President Bush and Congressional leaders to speed the passage of legislation on the treatment of terror suspects.
Senator Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania Republican who is the panel’s chairman, described as “inexplicable” a provision in the bill that would strip federal court of jurisdiction over detainees not formally charged with war crimes.
“If the courts are not open to decide constitutional issues, how is constitutionality going to be tested?’’ he asked.
Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the committee’s senior Democrat, criticized the rush to pass the legislation, saying its restriction of court access would perpetuate “the indefinite detentions of hundreds of individuals against whom the government has brought no charges and presented no evidence, and without any recourse to justice whatsoever.’’
“This is un-American,’’ he said, to applause from the audience.
Does anyone know what is happening with this bill? Is it going to be voted on this week?
Edited to add: KarenDC answered my question on dKos:
beachmom (0 / 0)
This was ahearing but the vote may be called for this week. Wed/Thurs is what we heard.
It is up you us to tell them what we need them to do.
PLEASE.
by karendc on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 11:17:38 AM PDT
Unfortunately, neither of my senators are worth calling. Warner negotiated the darn thing, so he's not going to vote against his own plan, and Felix is less than useless. Has anyone called their senator? I read on the thread, that Cantwell is waiting for the "final language" of the bill. I'm not sure about any other Democratic senators.