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Patriot Act Watch: Extended Until February 3
President George W. Bush gestures at the top of the steps of Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House before departing for Camp David, December 22, 2005.
Reuters has Congress extends anti-terror act to February 3
The U.S. Congress on Thursday agreed to extend until February 3 key provisions of the anti-terrorism USA Patriot Act to allow more time for lawmakers to consider civil liberties protections for the law that was set to expire at the end of the month.
The measure goes to President George W. Bush who is expected to sign it despite his earlier objection to any temporary extension of expiring provisions and his insistence that Congress accept a compromise that would permanently renew the Patriot Act.
The Senate agreed to the short extension of the existing law even though it had approved a six-month extension on Wednesday. A key House of Representatives Republican objected to that timetable and insisted lawmakers be kept to a tight deadline.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin is pushing the Senate to accept a compromise negotiated between House and Senate leaders that would permanently renew the law. He blasted Democrats for leading the fight against Senate passage of that bill, forcing lawmakers to extend the current law that was to expire on December 31.
“It is imperative that the House-passed Patriot Act conference report be considered and passed by the Senate in a timely manner to ensure that our nation’s law enforcement and intelligence communities are provided the tools necessary to detect and defeat terrorist threats,” he said.
A senior administration official said Bush would sign the one-month extension of the act even though he had objected to any extension of current law and wanted Congress to accept the compromise.
The Senate Democrats will NOT be ready in 30 days because they have NOT yet decided to what they object.
What a fraud.
Flap handicaps some face saving compromise after the Congress reconvenes but if Flap were Bill Frist he would make the Senate Democrats pay for this game playing.
Stay tuned……
Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc., speaks about the one-month extention of the Patriot Act during a press conference in the Capitol, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, in Washington. The House of Representatives passed a one-month extension of the Patriot Act on Thursday and sent it to the Senate for final action as the U.S. Congress scrambled to prevent expiration of anti-terror law enforcement provisions on Dec. 31.
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Patriot Act Watch: Playing Politics But Extended for Six Months
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Stanley “Tookie” Williams Executed: Shots Fired Outside Funeral
A Crip mourner in his colors salutes Tookie.
Patterico has alerted Flap to this story that the Los Angeles Times missed.
Shots fired outside Tookie’s funeral
Neither the L.A. Times nor the Daily News mentioned the gang tensions at Tookie Williams’ funeral yesterday, but KPCC’s Frank Stoltze did. His report included audio of some arguing between rival gang factions that were kept separated by Nation of Islam members. Clearly audible toward the end are three shots fired outside the church. No one was injured. Audio. (La Opinión did pick up on the gunplay.)
What a profound effect Tookie’s books and lectures have had on the community.
Those folks ars still in gangs and banging away………
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Stanley “Tookie†Williams Executed: Views from the Memorial Service/Funeral Part III
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The Execution of Stanley Tookie Williams: Tookie Saves Lives?Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stanley Tookie Williams, Crips
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California Taxes Watch: Builders and Politicians Pushing Bond Package
The Ventura County Star has Builders pushing bond package
A leading construction industry group on Wednesday recommended that California lawmakers take to voters next year a bond package in the range of $30 billion to $40 billion — with about half the payoff backed by a quarter-cent sales tax increase.
The proposal is one of numerous suggestions various interest groups are directing toward Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as he puts the finishing touches on a Jan. 5 State of the State address that he has promised will include a call for major investments in California’s roads, levees and other public works.
The economic growth of California has been good. Sooooooo, here come the taxes.
A leading construction industry group on Wednesday recommended that California lawmakers take to voters next year a bond package in the range of $30 billion to $40 billion — with about half the payoff backed by a quarter-cent sales tax increase.
The proposal is one of numerous suggestions various interest groups are directing toward Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as he puts the finishing touches on a Jan. 5 State of the State address that he has promised will include a call for major investments in California’s roads, levees and other public works
The politicians in Sacramento know how to spend taxpayer’s dollars.
Flap sees a dramatic need for infrastructure improvements but will this stop the hacks in Sacramento from siphoning off the money for other projects?
Stay tuned……..
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Here Come the Tax IncreasesTechnorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Alliance for Jobs, California bond issue, California
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Combat Methamphetamine Act of 2005 Watch: Bill Dies with Patriot Act Extension
The ravaging dental effects of Methamphetamine
Reuters has Senate puts off anti-meth measure
Popular bipartisan legislation to try to halt the spread of methamphetamines already devastating some rural U.S. communities was delayed until next year by the Senate on Wednesday.
The legislation would make it harder for meth “cooks” to obtain common ingredients contained in non-prescription cold medicines. It would also toughen penalties for methamphetamine traffickers and those who cook or deal meth with children present.
The U.S. House of Representatives had included the meth provisions and a port security measure in its legislation updating the anti-terrorism Patriot Act. But the Senate wants to work further on the Patriot Act because of civil liberties concerns and that approach meant that the drug and port security provisions had to be dropped.
What happened?
The Senate Democrats decided to play politcs, sabotaged the U.S. Patriot Act and doomed the Combat Meth Act which was attached as a rider.
California Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein, one of the sponsors of the meth provisions, secured a pledge from Republican and Democratic Senate leaders to take up the meth bill in January or February. Numerous lawmakers in both parties want Congress to act on the highly addictive drug, which has become a law enforcement, mental health and environmental scourge of many communities.
The bill would limit monthly purchases of common cold medications containing ingredients, such as pseudoephedrine, used to make meth and require that pharmacies sell these common medicines from behind the counter or keep them in a locked cabinet. They would still be available without a prescription but stores would keep records of sales.
Under the legislation, importers and exporters of meth ingredients or “precursors” would have to report on their shipments to prevent them from being diverted into meth production.
The drive to combat meth has had bipartisan support in both the House and Senate as law enforcement and treatment advocacy groups have called for more federal action. Some lawmakers have also pressed for more funding and research into treatment.
So, how many more Americans will become addicted? and…..
How many more Americans will DIE as a result of Patriot Act games by the Senate Democrats?
Another example of politics over policy…….
Senator Feinstein and the other Senate Democrats (including a few Republicans e.g Sununu, Snow) should be embarassed and ashamed….
Stay tuned……
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Methaphetamine Watch: Mexico Cuts Cold-Drug Imports to Battle Meth
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Day By Day by Chris Muir