Sunday, December 18, 2005

Clinton wanted to spy...

AHiddenSaint wanted to get increased wiretap authority but the Republican Congress would not allow it.

Look here:
Over one year ago President Clinton asked Congress for legislation to strengthen our ability to combat international terrorism. On April 24th the President signed S. 735, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 into law. Congress included many of the Administration's proposals in their bill, giving our law enforcement officials tough new tools to stop terrorists before they strike, and to bring them to justice if they do. The legislation bans fundraising in the United States that supports terrorist organizations. It also allows U.S. officials to deport terrorists from American soil without being compelled by the terrorists to divulge classified information, and to bar terrorists from entering the United States in the first place.

Nevertheless, as strong as the bill was, it should have been stronger. For example, President Clinton asked the Congress to give U.S. law enforcement increased wiretap authority in terrorism cases. But the Congress refused. After the President proposed that the Secretary of the Treasury consider the inclusion of taggants in explosive materials, so that bombs can be traced more easily to the bomb makers, the Congress exempted black and smokeless powder -- two of the most commonly used substances in improvised explosive devices.
President Clinton had the decency to go to Congress.

Why is it that when Republicans control Congress that the President is scrutinized by Congress yet GWB gets away with practically anything until the MSM reports it.

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