More Funding for FBI Snooping
By Declan McCullagh
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,37183,00.html
3:00 a.m. Jun. 24, 2000 PDT
WASHINGTON -- Congress is poised to give the FBI more money for
wiretapping than even its director, Louis Freeh, had hoped for.
The proposed 2001 budget approved by a House panel doles out an
unprecedented $282 million to rewire U.S. telephone networks to
make them readily snoopable, edging closer to the
half-billion-dollar estimated price tag for the project. That's
$70 million more than the FBI and the Clinton administration had
requested. The 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement
Act requires telephone companies to modify their networks so
police can eavesdrop when necessary -- and the feds pay for the
changes.
The reason for Congress's unexpected largesse? "The
(appropriations) committee believes that implementation of CALEA
is long overdue. The committee notes that Congress expected CALEA
implementation to be achieved over two years ago," the committee
report says. "However, due to disagreements between law
enforcement and industry, that deadline was not met. As a result,
law enforcement's ability to effectively counter threats of
terrorism, drug trafficking, and other serious crimes has been
seriously eroded."
Fortunately -- at least from Congress' perspective -- industry
and law enforcement cut a deal, and there should be no further
delays.
A proposal to decrease the CALEA cash by $28 million and spend it
instead on lobster fisheries in the Long Island Sound (no,
really) was defeated in committee, 28-24.
The committee did not agree with the White House that half of
that money should be funneled through the Defense Department for
"national security" reasons, as Wired News reported in February.
All of it will go to the Justice Department instead.
The appropriations measure, part of the Commerce, Justice, and
State spending bill, is currently on the House floor.
---
More cash to fight MS: Microsoft, look out.
The Justice Department's antitrust division, busy pulling long
hours in its attempt to break up the world's largest software
company, is about to get more money.
The same spending bill hands the division $113.3 million for the
fiscal year beginning in October 2000. That's $3.3 million above
the current year appropriation, although more than $20.7 million
below the Clinton administration's request.
Microsoft has lobbied to reduce the overall antitrust division
budget.
A motion to boost the DOJ antitrust and FTC -- which shares that
responsibility -- budgets by a total of $51 million was defeated
in committee by a 26-19 vote.
The spending bill is still open to amendments on the House floor.
The 2001 fiscal year begins October 2000.
http://www.imagemuse.com/
=================================================================
Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day.
=================================================================
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
<A HREF="http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
