Home > Secret vote on Patriot Act angers some conservatives
Democracy Attack-Terrorism USA
WASHINGTON - A closed-door vote by the Senate Intelligence Committee to expand law enforcement powers under the USA Patriot Act is prompting sharp criticism from some conservative leaders who are otherwise among the most vocal allies of President Bush and the Republican leadership.
The conservative leaders, who have formed a coalition with critics on the left, including the American Civil Liberties Union, vowed to press their concerns in public statements, rallies and advertising.
While the conservatives have been long-standing critics of the anti-terror law, they lashed out with particular force last week at the White House, members of Congress and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, saying that they expected a more open review of the Patriot Act in which lawmakers would consider limits on some provisions in order to safeguard civil rights.
Instead, they complained, the Senate panel had moved in secret to expand the act. They are particularly upset about the proposed addition to the law authorizing "administrative subpoenas," under which the FBI would be able to obtain a person’s medical, financial and other records in terrorism cases without seeking a judge’s approval.
Their criticism gathered force as President Bush pressed Congress last week to renew parts of the act that are due to expire at the end of this year.
"It is a slap in the face to the Constitution," said Bob Barr, a former Republican congressman from Georgia, who leads a bipartisan coalition of groups calling for limits on the act, which was passed six weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
In a separate interview, the head of the American Conservative Union, David Keene, said he was upset that the administration appeared to be encouraging reauthorization of the expiring Patriot Act provisions through the more-secretive Senate Intelligence Committee, despite pledges of openness.