Joe Lieberman: “Among its other significant provisions, the bill before the Senate, S. 2845, establishes a new Privacy and Civil…”

“Among its other significant provisions, the bill before the Senate, S. 2845, establishes a new Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Waging the war on terror has required that the federal government take steps that consolidate governmental authority and increase the government's presence in our lives. As the 9/11 Commission observed, this shift of power and authority to the government, while necessary, calls for "an enhanced system of checks and balances to protect the precious liberties that are vital to our way of life." Following the commission's recommendation on this point, this bill creates, for the first time, a Board that can look across the federal government and ensure that liberty concerns are appropriately considered in the policies and practices of the executive branch.”