Thursday, November 17, 2005

Patriot Act Renewal: Three Views Plus Maria on Big Oil

The Seattle P-I has "Democrats balk over renewal of Patriot Act," from AP. The Seattle Times goes with "Congress reaches deal on Patriot Act" from the Washington Post. Take your pick! From John Conyers: Patriot Act Update - Don't Let Them Pass This Without Your Input, via Pacific Views.

The Post also has this about Maria Cantwell, from their AP story "Tax Bill Attracts Oil, Gas Amendments":

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., plans to offer an amendment that would ban price gouging during national energy emergencies declared by the president. Federal authorities could levy civil and criminal penalties for proven price gouging.

"We need to protect consumers from profiteering at the gas pump, and we need to act now," she said. Booman Tribune tips us to this press release from Cantwell: Cantwell, Senate Democrats Demand Oil Execs Testify Under Oath."

Update: Pacific Views gives us the bad news ("the conference committee voted out a bill that contained all the worst elements that Rep. Conyers warned of in his post") and the good news ("the bill from the conference committee has to be approved by a majority of the House of Representatives and the Senate. That means there is still time to make it very painful for your representatives or senators to cast a vote betraying the Constitution to the radical and power-hungry Republicans who want to impose a police state on us. Fortunately, Senator Russ Feingold is going to do his part in helping provide the space for us to have our voices heard").

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