Arlen Specter: “I do not disagree with everything the Senator from Wisconsin has said. In fact, I like part of it where he said I was…”

“I do not disagree with everything the Senator from Wisconsin has said. In fact, I like part of it where he said I was brilliant, I like the part where he said I was a tremendous chairman, but there were other parts with which I disagree as to what he said. A little levity will not hurt this debate any. I focus only on national security letters at the outset, to establish the point that the conference report is more protective of civil liberties on that point than the Senate bill. I want to go on to the other points. I have only faint hopes of persuading the Senator from Wisconsin to support the conference report, but I do think it is very useful to have this discussion because he is, appropriately, very deeply involved in this bill and there is no better way to acquaint our colleagues and the staffs--perhaps two or three people watching on C- SPAN2--to acquaint America, to the extent we can, with what we are doing here. On to section 215: Section 215 involves business records and the highly controversial point on library records. The Senator from Wisconsin is correct that the existing law is deeply flawed. Bear in mind, we are living under that law until we pass a new law. That is the law we are operating under today. Existing law enables a law enforcement official unilaterally to go to get records on his determination that they are relevant, and there is no judicial review.…”