Louise Slaughter: “What we have before us is a tale of two bills. One bill was crafted by the standing committee of the House. The other…”

“What we have before us is a tale of two bills. One bill was crafted by the standing committee of the House. The other was crafted by the Attorney General and the President. One bill is limited in scope and sunsets after this crisis will have passed. The other bill is a power grab by prosecutors that can be used not just in terrorism cases but in drug cases and gun cases. This administration bill would last for the remainder of the President's term of office, long after the bombing stops and the terrorists are brought to justice. We must all rally around the flag at a time like this, but we also shouldn't take leave of our senses. Benjamin Franklin said it best: 'They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.'”