Some background: http://www.wartimeliberty.com/search.pl?topic=legislation
--- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2001/10/17/national1959EDT0880.DTL Lawmakers break logjam on new anti-terrorism laws, surveillance measures to expire in 2005 JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, October 17, 2001 New authority wanted by President Bush to wiretap and eavesdrop on suspected terrorists, including secret police searches of their homes and records, would expire in four years under a compromise negotiated Wednesday, according to congressional sources. The White House had sought unfettered and permanent authority for so-called roving wiretaps to monitor telephone and computer communications of terrorism suspects no matter where they take place, but encountered stiff opposition from civil rights and privacy advocates in both parties. House and Senate negotiators agreed Wednesday afternoon to the compromise sunset date of Dec. 31, 2005, for the expanded authority to expire, said four top congressional aides, all speaking on condition of anonymity. "It's a done deal," said one GOP House aide. Three Senate aides, one Republican and two Democrats, confirmed the deal. Before departing on a trip to Asia, President Bush met Wednesday morning with leaders in both parties and urged them to come to a speedy agreement on anti-terrorism legislation containing the new law enforcement measures. The bill had been stalled for more than a month, primarily over the new electronic surveillance authority. [...] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
