House condemns Patriot Act

[FreedomAngel82]

Link: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/04/02/build/state/68-pat-act.inc

Snip: <Montana lawmakers overwhelmingly passed what its sponsor called the nation's most strongly worded criticism of the federal Patriot Act on Friday, uniting politicians of all stripes.

The resolution, which already galloped through the Senate and passed the House 88-12 Friday, must survive a final vote before it officially passes.

Senate Joint Resolution 19, sponsored by Sen. Jim Elliott, D-Trout Creek, says that while the 2005 Legislature supports the federal government's fight against terrorism, the so-called Patriot Act of 2001 granted authorities sweeping powers that violate citizens' rights enshrined in both the U.S. and Montanan constitutions.

The resolution, which does not carry the weight of a law but expresses the Legislature's opinion, encourages Montana law enforcement agencies not to participate in investigations authorized under the Patriot Act that violate Montanans' constitutional rights. It requests all libraries in the state to post a sign warning citizens that under the Patriot Act, federal agents may force librarians to turn over a record of books a person has checked out and never inform that citizen of the request.>

[Liberty Belle]

1. Kick! Nominating.

[FreedomAngel82]

3. I thought it was great

The "Patriot Act" has a lot of stuff in there that is a bunch of crap. I wish all could follow that example. *sigh*

[Us vs Them]

2. Nice!

Suck it 'Patriot' act.

[Wilms]

4. n/t

[BuyingThyme]

5. Good for you, Montana!

It must be the mountain air.

[AllyCat]

6. This is a bipartisan issue!

This is a human issue and an American issue. For the 12 that didn't think it was worth it because the feds would say "so what?", perhaps they can explain to their constituents why they feel it is okay to just roll over and let Uncle Sam do 'em because "it carries no weight". Out with them.

Way to go Montana! I see your state is bluer than my blue state which is busy debating whether or not the University can give out birth control to female students, shooting feral cats, and allowing medical personnel to refuse treatment to people they don't like.

[LibertyorDeath]

7. "House condemns Patriot Act"

Beautiful !

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Ah and slowly people are showing signs of life

May I remind you all this movement started in Hawaii, but it is spreading... more and more state houses have said such, and many a county refuse to enforce it.

Just from memory at state level

Hawaii
Vermont
Alaska
and now Montana

[AllyCat]

9. It still pisses me off that none of these folks would speak in '04

but are coming out of the woodwork now that Shrubie is headed for lame duck fame. If only they had spoken out 8 months ago, we might have a much different situation in our country right now.

Better late than never I guess. Lets hope the train keeps rolling right up to the '06 elections and we can turn around this Congress. Of course, in my mind, turning them around means getting rid of about 85% of them.

[whatelseisnew]

10. Hold on a sec. there Allycat. A question for you.

Edit to add the question:

Was this Pat. Act opposition part of the reason dems won in Montana and thus the reason for this vote happening now?

I am not sure but I think Montana has been one of the recent Dem. success stories.

I agree that many have waited too long to speak out

but lets remember the lack of media coverage of those who did

We live under State Popaganda Press and propaganda does work well after all these centuries of honing.

[AllyCat]

12. Perhaps, but

I'm talking about the broader reach of this type of action in Alaska, Hawaii (very blue so no surprise there), and the northeast, in addition to Representatives (Ron Paul, R-TX and Walter Jones, R-NC) who are now speaking out against the Bush and Rovian crimes, Patriot Act as the centerpiece.

Make no mistake: I hold the media complicit in allowing this administration to steamroll over our rights while they knowingly drank the GHB in the punchbowl. But a lot more people could have made a lot more noise about these things when Feingold stood up as the lone dissenting voice against the Pogrom, I mean Patriot Act.

Dems won in Montana (thank God) and despite the media circus over the Republican takeover of our government in the last election, many "red" states managed to gain Dem seats. But this action in Montana is bipartisan, having less to do with Dems in power than in real people standing up and saying "hey, wait a minute...".

I hope more of them do it. I just hope it's not too little too late.

[jbnow]

11. What happened?

Are State Legislatures actually READING it?

Too bad the US congress didn't. I realize so soon after 9/11 that a bill with a handy acronym like PATRIOT act (from "Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism,") is something hard to vote NO too. It would look so unpatriotic.

When did they write it, really? How did they come up with a 324 page bill with 150 sections, get it passed and signed by bush within 6 weeks of 9/11, if 9/11 was the inspiration and was unexpected? That alone is suspicious...
Or am I wrong and things do move that fast?