Author archives

Opposition to Patriot Act Reauthorization Stalls Vote

Yesterday: Patriot Act Reauthorization Encounters Strong Opposition; today news on a deadlock which will delay a vote until December. Preventing passage of any meaningful reforms to this legislation may indeed prove to be a bigger obstacle than anticipated. The work of organizations including the American Library Association, EFF, EPIC, CDT and the ACLU is in …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legislation, Privacy

Fitzgerald Files for a New Grand Jury

The investigation into the Plame leak will, despite the prognostications of a range of commentators, in fact move forward and expand, according to today’s news that Special Counsel Fitzgerald has requested a new grand jury. According to the court filing, “…The investigation will involve proceedings before a different grand jury than the grand jury which …

Subjects: Courts, Government Documents, Legal Research

Redesigned THOMAS Launched Today

Sharing navigation and design similarities with the Library of Congress site as well as the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration site, today’s launch of the upgraded THOMAS Congressional information site offers citizens, educators and researchers additional browse and search features (including the ability to Search Multiple Congresses, from the 101 to the 109; links …

Subjects: Congress, Legal Research, Legislation, Libraries

Patriot Act Reauthorization Encounters Strong Opposition

Following up on reports of civil liberties protections having been stripped from the draft Patriot Act reauthorization and information that the bill contains “poison pill measures,” news today that a bipartisan group of Senators (including Feingold and Sununu) is attempting to block passage of bill by the full Senate. Their statement is here.

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

ALA Urges Vote Against Patriot Act Conference Report

From American Library Association Washington Office Newsline: “The House is scheduled to vote on the PATRIOT Act conference report as early as Thursday, November 17. The revised bill does not contain important civil liberties safeguards sought by ALA and other advocates…The revised bill sunsets at seven years (The Senate bill sunset was 4 years and …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legislation, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

High Profile Journalist Surfaces in Ongoing Plame Leak Investigation

Following up on postings concerning the expanding circle of journalists involved in the Plame investigation, news today that the grand jury heard testimony this week from Bob Woodward, heretofore not named. Washington Post (reg. req’d), Woodward Was Told of Plame More Than Two Years Ago Washington Post (reg. req’d), Woodward Apologizes to Post for Withholding …

Subjects: Government Documents