Politech: Weekly column: Patriot Act redux as Congress considers 9/11 bills [priv]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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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