Committee members refused to discuss details of the two-and-a-half-hour session, although officials voiced confidence that the senators would eventually reach an agreement, the New York Times reported May 27. Senate Republican leaders and the Bush administration argue that the legislation would give the FBI essential tools to fight terrorism, while civil liberties advocates and some Democrats maintain it would open the door to fishing expeditions.
Although House and Senate Judiciary Committees have held hearings on the Patriot Act provisions set to expire at the end of the year—including Section 215, which eases restrictions on searches of library and bookstore records—the Senate Intelligence Committee is the first to consider formal legislation to renew the measures. Officials told the Times the committee was expected to return to the matter June 7, after Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess.
The American Civil Liberties Union decried the secretive meeting. “These are proposals that demand a full, vigorous, and public debate and vote, not secret meetings,” said Lisa Graves, ACLU Senior Counsel for Legislative Strategy. “If adopted, these broad new powers would sidestep time-honored checks and balances. Lawmakers should reject this reckless disregard for the Fourth Amendment.”
Posted May 27, 2005.