Political Quotes

“the PATRIOT Act allows Federal agents to look at public and university library, patron circulation records, books checked out, magazines consulted, all subject to government scrutiny. There used to be a time in this country when we were worried whether our young people knew how to read. Now some in our government are more worried that government agents be able to find out what people are reading. This section that the Sanders amendment addresses gives the FBI the power to search for any tangible thing, books, records, papers, documents and other items, in a location without having to show probable cause. The Sanders amendment would restore legal standards and warrant procedures for investigations of libraries and bookstores which were in place before the passage of the PATRIOT Act. It is time for us to remember where we come from as a Nation. This very Chamber we are standing in is dedicated to liberty, to freedom. The things we see carved in stone and wood in this place are all about freedom. Why do we not remember where we come from? Where we come from is a Nation with a heritage of standing up for basic civil liberties, for the first amendment, the right to assemble, the right to free speech; and I say it is time to address it with the Sanders amendment.”