Political Quotes

“When we look at section 206, which allows the FBI to obtain an order from FISA to wiretap a target without having to specify the target or device; when we look at section 6001, which authorizes the government to conduct investigations of non-U.S. individuals not connected to a foreign power or terrorist group, effectively allows the government to circumvent standards that are required to obtain electronic surveillance orders from criminal courts; when we look at these things, these provisions are divorced from our constitutional experience. They are divorced from what we know are commonsense provisions of what our rights ought to be. That's why I'm opposed to the extension of the Patriot Act and why, if we had any sense, we would repeal the whole thing. November 3, 2009. Hon. John Conyers, Jr. Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Conyers: I applaud you for your leadership on reconsideration of various provisions of the Patriot Amendments Act and FISA Amendments Act of 2009. These bills provide a number of significant reforms that are important steps toward restoring Congressional oversight of government surveillance and civil liberties protections.…”