http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/11025nAttacks-TerrorLaws.html

House OKs new search powers
Senate now considers bill intended to stem terrorism

Tucson, Arizona Thursday, 25 October 2001

BILL'S HIGHLIGHTS

* Allows officials to tap any phone a suspect uses.
* Allows officials to get nationwide search warrants for terrorism investigations.
* Makes illegal the possession of possible substances that can be used as biological or chemical weapons for any purpose besides a "peaceful" purpose.

By Jesse J. Holland
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - The House approved legislation Wednesday to give police new search powers in response to last month's terrorist attacks, including the ability to secretly search homes, tap all of a person's telephone conversations and track people's use of the Internet.

The Senate plans to vote on the measure today, hoping to get it ready for President Bush's signature before the end of the week.

"I expect a pretty overwhelming vote, and that's how it should be," Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said.

The president praised the quick passage of the legislation by the House, saying in a statement, "I look forward to signing this strong bipartisan plan into law so that we can combat terrorism and prevent future attacks."

Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft have been calling for legislation to expand the FBI's wiretapping and electronic surveillance authority, impose stronger penalties on those who harbor or finance terrorists and increase punishments of terrorists since the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

The GOP-controlled House gave strong support to the bill, passing it 357-66 despite critics' concerns about compromising civil liberties.

In order to get a deal with the Senate, House leaders dumped the House Judiciary Committee's GOP-Democratic compromise with more civil liberties and privacy provisions for a modified Senate version negotiated with the Justice Department and the White House.

"This legislation is not perfect, and the process is not one that all will embrace," House Judiciary Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said Tuesday. "However, these are difficult times. . . . This legislation is desperately needed."
HOW TO COMMENT

John McCain, Republican
* D.C. phone: (202) 224-2235
* Fax: (202) 228-2862
* Tucson office phone: (520) 670-6334
Jon Kyl,
Republican
* D.C. phone: (202) 224-4521
* Fax: (202) 224-2207
* Tucson office phone: (520) 575-8633

But the new legislation is "not just limited to terrorism," argued Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va. "Had it been limited to terrorism, this bill could have passed three or four weeks ago without much discussion."

The legislation expands the federal government's power to inspect educational records, wiretap all of a person's telephone conversations instead of just certain telephone numbers, track e-mails, seize voice mails and detain immigrants suspected of being terrorists. Critics say it goes too far.

"This legislation is based on the faulty assumption that safety must come at the expense of civil liberties," said Laura Murphy, head of the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington office.

But senators say the House-Senate compromise is a good one.

"It's a good bill, and I am very pleased with the work product here," Daschle said.

Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith had threatened to block final approval of the anti-terrorism bill to force the House to fix a law that bans federal prosecutors from using techniques allowed by federal law but banned under ethics rules enforced by state bar associations.

In Oregon, ethics rules prohibit attorneys from using deceit. Federal prosecutors say that means wiretaps and other covert methods cannot be used in that state.

But Wyden, a Democrat, and Smith, a Republican, decided not to interfere with the bill after getting assurances from the White House and Daschle that a fix would be considered later. The two Oregon senators also got their amendment placed on the Senate's foreign aid spending bill, which now goes to the House for negotiations.

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