>From Richmond-area Libertarian, Danielle Lewis: ***************************
You know there is a problem in this country when our government renews the Patriot Act. But what is even worse is the process through which they renewed it: To start, the senate tacked the renewal onto a Medicare reform bill (by voice vote, no less, assuring that the names of those that supported it were not to be attached to the renewal, and also insuring that there was no debate on the new and "extended" provisions that had been added in). The voice vote process basically insures that there will be no public record on how our representatives voted, leaving no official record of the vote. The House then passed this bill unanimously (also by a voice vote). None of those that voted for this bill get their names attached to the Patriot Act renewal. It all seems rather backhanded...but in that familiar, Washingtonian, sort of way. It is Sunday morning, and President Obama will VERY LIKELY sign this into law today, breaking yet another promise from his 2008 election campaign. Interestingly the phrase "Patriot Act renewal" cannot be found on either the Senate or House's websites. Instead, the bill is listed as the "Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act" under the Senate's website; and the even more cryptic "Roll Call 67:On Motion to Concur in Senate Amendments" on the House's website. "The three extended provisions give US intelligence agencies the power to: 1) conduct "roving" wiretaps without specifying a particular phone number or e-mail account; 2) force institutions to surrender credit, banking, medical, mental health and library records; and 3) spy on so-called lone-wolf foreign nationals, who have no affiliation to either terrorist organizations or foreign governments." Does anyone still believe that this administration represents "change"????? According to this site, which actually went through the verbal roll call, my 'awesome' representative ERIC CANTOR voted for this bill... If I didn't dislike him already, I sure wouldn't be voting for him now. http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2010/02/25/patriot-act-without-reforms-passes-house-roll-call-included/ *************************** Vote Libertarian. http://www.LP.org ############################################################# Have an announcement you'd like to post? SCC members & many committee heads are all authorized to post; or you may send your announcements to the List Master: [email protected] ################################################## Unsubscribe Send an email to [email protected] with no subject and "Unsubscribe Announce" as the text. Unsubscribe ############################################################# Libertarian Party of Virginia http://www.LPVA.com
