According to a Yahoo news report, it would appear that the Congress has reached a "deal" on the Patriot Act...and it doesn't sound like much of a deal to me:
"House and Senate negotiators struck a tentative deal on the expiring Patriot Act that would curb FBI subpoena power and require the Justice Department to more fully report its secret requests for information about ordinary people, according to officials involved in the talks."
This is supposed to make us all think our rights are being defended by our illustrious "representatives." But read on:
"The agreement....would make most provisions of the existing law permanent."
In other words, in exchange for a few vague reassurances about "curbed"
subpoena power and "more fully reported" requests by the justice dept., our "reps" are making the worst assault on civil liberties since the Jim Crow laws PERMANENT.
And, of course, NOT A MENTION of any of this on the nightly news.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051116/ap_on_go_co/patriot_act;_ylt=AnsNFzx.QgK1_82TVuPjDjus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ- -
