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September 13, 2012

House Votes to Extend Warrantless Wiretapping 
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On Capitol Hill, the Republican-controlled House has voted to extend a
statute allowing warrantless government surveillance. With the FISA
Amendments Act set to expire at the end of 2012, the House voted
Wednesday to extend it for five years. Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler of
New York criticized the measure.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler: "While it is certainly appropriate for our
government to gather foreign intelligence, and while some degree of
secrecy is obviously necessary, it is also vital in a free society that
we limit government, protect the constitutional rights of Americans here
and abroad, and limit warrantless spying to genuine foreign
intelligence. Unfortunately, we have seen repeatedly how even the very
minimal restraints Congress put on FISA have been violated. We should
address those abuses. Congress has an obligation to exert more control
over spy agencies than simply to give them a blank check for another
five years."

 

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