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Bush Wants 'Patriot Act' Extended
President Bush has called on Congress to extend the emergency powers granted to him by the so-called Patriot Act which makes it easier for law enforcement officials to gain information about people without a warrant and to conduct secret surveillance against people. It also contains many other controversial provisions. The president claims the Patriot Act is necessary to continue the war on terrorism.
'We must not allow the passage of time or the illusion of safety to weaken our resolve in this new war,' Mr. Bush said in a speech at the Justice Department. 'To protect the American people, Congress must promptly renew all provisions of the Patriot Act this year.'
The Patriot Act was instituted shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pantagon on September 11, 2001. It has come under fire for being too far reaching. For example, the government may gain access to somebody's library records without a search warrant to see what books they have been taking out.
The American Civil Liberties Union called for changes in the law which they and many other critics feel compromises civil rights. The ACLU announced in a statement 'The president and the attorney general must realize that security and liberty are not - and cannot be - mutually exclusive.'
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who was just being sworn in added, 'Undeniably, the attorney general is a member of the president's Cabinet, a part of his team. But the attorney general represents also the American people, and his first allegiance must always be to the Constitution (search) of the United States.'
Gonzales is considered a strong supporter of the Patriot Act.
Mr. Bush has said he will veto any bill which attempts to reduce the government's powers when it comes to fighting terrorism. In fact, the president has asked for some of the provisions in the Patriot Act to be made stronger.
With Republican control of both houses of Congress, extension of the Patriot Act is expected to pass in some form.
