I was proud of Tom Udall for his opposition to the original so-called “PATRIOT” Act (a despicable acronym). Now he joins others in trying to fix some of that act’s excesses. Bravo.

As an aside to every opponent of health care insurance reform: If you said, “they didn’t even read the health care act,” did you voice similar concerns about the longer, more complex “PATRIOT” Act? Why not? Moreover, you are wrong; I know our rep has read it. Were you as outraged by the “PATRIOT” Act’s demonstrable undermining of our freedoms as you are by the supposed threat posed by health care insurance reform? If not, STFU. peace, mjh

Bingaman, Udall want to reform the PATRIOT Act

by: LP

Thu Sep 17, 2009 at 20:30:00 PM MDT

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New Mexico U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman are in a group of nine Senators who wish to reform the PATRIOT Act. The two New Mexico U.S. Senators are part of an original group of nine cosponsors of the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act.

The other original cosponsors are Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). Feingold was the only U.S. Senator to vote against the original PATRIOT Act.

Recently, the administration of President Barack Obama announced that they were extending provisions of the PATRIOT Act.

From a Feingold press release:

The Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act would reform the USA PATRIOT Act, the FISA Amendments Act and other surveillance authorities to protect Americans’ constitutional rights, while preserving the powers of our government to fight terrorism.

Here’s a video of Senator Tom Udall, when in the House, he was one of just 66 House members who voted against the original PATRIOT Act, speaking on the need to reform the PATRIOT Act.

New Mexico Politics: New Mexico FBIHOP:: Bingaman, Udall want to reform the PATRIOT Act