Several provisions of the Patriot Act are due to expire, or "sunset" in a few weeks. Now that congress is back in session, they are giving these provisions the "fast track". This means they are voting on the bill's extensions with no discussion, except for a forty minute maximum total. It has been rushed to the floor without a single committee meeting, review, or even a proper markup. Under the suspension of rules, only the maximum forty minutes of discussion will be allowed, no amendments can be added, and then a simple yes-no vote will carry it for another year.
Suspension of Rules votes are reserved only for non-controversial legislation. Popular with both parties, there is not much expectation that it will fail to be extended. The programs being extended include:
*The authority for "roving" wiretaps that allows the government to monitor computers that *may* occasionally be used by suspected terrorists. (foreign or domestic)
* The "tangible records provision" that requires banks, telecoms and libraries to hand over *any* customer information the government requests without informing the customer.
*Lone wolf provisions which allow the government to spy on *anyone* even if they're not associated with a terrorist organization or foreign national, without due process or notification.
Also still in the Patriot Act, but not up for vote, are the items:
*Judicial warrants replaced with "National Security Letters" signed by unaccountable administration bureaucrats, and gag orders for those served with these letters which make it illegal to tell anyone about it .
*Asset seizure regulations to permit the taking of assets from anyone "suspected" of terrorism, even if that person is not charged or sent to trial.
*Expansion of the definition of "domestic terrorism".
*Secret federal searches without warrants or knowledge of the resident.
Why the big rush to get this extension in place? Surely there are more important matters before Congress right now. Do they know something we don't? Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R, TX), who is moving the bill forward from his committee and onto the floor, has called it a move toward the "long-term re-authorization" of the provisions.
On the other side of the aisle, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Leahy has submitted his own bill to extend all the provisions, basically identical to the Republican version, the only difference being a few more restrictions on the "tangible records" provisions.