Under the radar, Obama pushes for Patriot Act renewal

Under the radar, Obama pushes for Patriot Act renewal

Feingold expresses frustration over Senate version

Richard Moore
Investigative Reporter

With key sections of the U.S. Patriot Act set to expire [Update: Extended for two months by the House] Dec. 31, the Obama administration - essentially tiptoeing through the corridors of Congress and using the raucous health care debate as cover - has quietly maneuvered for renewal of the controversial provisions, which he opposed as a senator.

Perhaps the most contentious measure is the business records provision, also known as the library provision, which allows the government to seek a court order forcing private entities such as banks, hospitals, and libraries to hand over "any tangible thing" - from library circulation records to medical records - officials think is relevant in a terrorist investigation.

That is a patently false implied message by the government. The message is that the disputed sections have only been used in terrorism investigations, and are used judiciously, and fairly, ... is not supported by fact. And the contention that there are court orders involved in everything they want to do, is an insult to our intelligence - National Security Letters, and their abuse

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This is a very good article

http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&subsectionID=9&article....