Patriot Act provisions get House boost Bill making most of law permanent OK'd; Senate versions differ.

By Mary Curtius, Tribune Newspapers: Los Angeles Times. Tribune news services contributed. Published July 22, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The House voted Thursday to make permanent most of the key provisions of the USA Patriot Act, the sweeping law passed in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that expanded law- enforcement powers to investigate suspected terrorists.

Hours after the London subway system was bombed for the second time in two weeks, House members opened a daylong debate on the Patriot Act.

Read More »

 

 

The terrorists win. Every time a democratic government passes permanent laws like this, taking away our freedoms, the terrorists win another major victory. That's the real threat of terrorism - the long-term, insidious erosion of our liberties. If Americans don't speak up and protest, we're just another step closer to 1984.

That prospect really is terrifying. Speak up!