The Obama administration supports extending three key provisions of the Patriot Act that are due to expire at the end of the year, the Justice Department told Congress in a letter made public Tuesday.

Lawmakers and civil rights groups had been pressing the Democratic administration to say whether it wants to preserve the post-Sept. 11th law's authority to access business records, as well as monitor so-called "lone wolf" terrorists and conduct roving wiretaps.

The provision on business records was long criticized by rights groups as giving the government access to citizens' library records, and a coalition of liberal and conservative groups complained that the Patriot Act gives the government too much authority to snoop into Americans' private lives.

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama said he would take a close look at the law, based on his past expertise in constitutional law. Back in May, President Obama said legal institutions must be updated to deal with the threat of terrorism, but in a way that preserves the rule of law and accountability.

In a letter to lawmakers, Justice Department officials said the administration supports extending the three expiring provisions of the law, although they are willing to consider additional privacy protections as long as they don't weaken the effectiveness of the law.

Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich wrote Sen. Patrick Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, that the administration is willing to consider stronger civil rights protections in the new law "provided that they do not undermine the effectiveness of these important (provisions)."

Leahy responded with a statement saying it is important for the administration and Congress to "work together to ensure that we protect both our national security and our civil liberties."

The committee has scheduled a hearing next week on the Patriot Act.

From 2004 to 2007, the business records provision was used 220 times, officials said. Most often, the business records were requested in combination with requests for phone records.

The lone wolf provision was created to conduct surveillance on suspects with no known link to foreign governments or terrorist groups. It has never been used, but the administration says it should still be available for future investigations.

The roving wiretaps provision was designed to allow investigators to quickly monitor the communications of a suspects who change their cell phone or communication device, without investigators having to go back to court for a new court authorization. That provision has been used an average of 22 times a year, officials said.

Michelle Richardson of the American Civil Liberties Union called the administration's position "a mixed bag," and said that the group hopes the next version of the Patriot Act will have important safeguards on other issues, particularly the collecting of international communications, and a specific bar on surveillance of protected First Amendment activities like peaceful protests or religious assembly.

"We're heartened they're saying they're willing to work with Congress," Richardson said, adding that is "definitely a sea change from what we've seen in the past."

Interesting...

This Act was such a controversial issue that helped PO in his election endeavors and NOW, oh well, its not as bad as "we" thought it was . . .

Ugh. I am certainly no fan of the horribly named Patriot Act. The article is vague on the details of what provisions the current administration wants to maintain, and is even more vague about the intimated "civil liberties protections" proposed in a revision of the current law.

I will reserve judgement until details appear, but this makes me a bit leery.

The primary problem with the Patriot act is that it was an overreaction. It overstretched, and went past what was appropriate. Additionally, the Justice Department, specifically the FBI in collusions with certain federal prosecutors, started to use the tools included in the Patriot Act to investigate and prosecute cases that had nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism, and that is where the civil libertarians got really upset - and rightfully so.

Kegler... My thoughts exactly!

It (Patriot Act) was too evil for Bush to have control of..., BUT, just right for PO . . .

I voted for President Obama and support him but I disagree with him vehemently on this issue (continuing the Patriot Act) and his policy on Indefinite Detention. In both respects, he is IMO, in DIRECT violation of the Constitution and NO BETTER than George Bush. It annoys me that some people are OK with it because it's Obama with the powers and not Bush, granted I DO trust Obama more than Bush, but I still do not believe such powers should reside in anybody's hands. Executive power is taken, never returned...

quote:

Originally posted by ELLIOTT1980:
Interesting...

This Act was such a controversial issue that helped PO in his election endeavors and NOW, oh well, its not as bad as "we" thought it was . . .

Well, this is the exact issue that I brought up after the Patriot Act became law... once you give the government these powers they're not going to want to give them back.

I remember asking the question here regarding how conservatives would feel once liberals regained control and realized that they now wielded these new found powers. I was laughed at... the conservatives on this board then began repeating something about a "Permanent Republican Majority" and how it would never happen.

Yeah...

quote:

Originally posted by Killswitch_Engage:
I voted for President Obama and support him but I disagree with him vehemently on this issue (continuing the Patriot Act) and his policy on Indefinite Detention. In both respects, he is IMO, in DIRECT violation of the Constitution and NO BETTER than George Bush. It annoys me that some people are OK with it because it's Obama with the powers and not Bush, granted I DO trust Obama more than Bush, but I still do not believe such powers should reside in anybody's hands. Executive power is taken, never returned...

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Kegler300:

That's pretty cool, I'm sure a few of our friends on the left are loosing their lunch!

I always felt that Obama would be a grave disappointment to the "left" and to those who truly wanted "change."

I hear ya WW, the last election was the lesser of 2 evils.

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Yes yes.. my favorite quote but it goes hand in hand with the Patriot Act.

quote:

Originally posted by 67NOV:
I hear ya WW, the last election was the lesser of 2 evils.

Makes you wonder why the "right" keeps insisting that he's a "liberal" and a "marxist".

When the dust settles, Barack Obama will be about as "liberal" as Barry Goldwater.

quote:

When the dust settles, Barack Obama will be about as "liberal" as Barry Goldwater.

Isn't it strange that liberalism ALWAYS ends up that way?????

And Obama is NOT a socialist....He is a National Socialist....there is a difference!

quote:

Originally posted by 1WW:

quote:

Originally posted by 67NOV:
I hear ya WW, the last election was the lesser of 2 evils.

Makes you wonder why the "right" keeps insisting that he's a "liberal" and a "marxist".

When the dust settles, Barack Obama will be about as "liberal" as Barry Goldwater.

Well I wouldn't go that far, but we can respectfully disagree.

quote:

Originally posted by 67NOV:

quote:

Originally posted by 1WW:

quote:

Originally posted by 67NOV:
I hear ya WW, the last election was the lesser of 2 evils.

Makes you wonder why the "right" keeps insisting that he's a "liberal" and a "marxist".

When the dust settles, Barack Obama will be about as "liberal" as Barry Goldwater.

Well I wouldn't go that far, but we can respectfully disagree.

You'll see!

Once Pelosi and Reid are kicked out of their jobs, things will turn around, and Barack Obama will be "hated" by the "other" side.

quote:

Originally posted by The_Bonesaw:

quote:

Originally posted by Killswitch_Engage:
I voted for President Obama and support him but I disagree with him vehemently on this issue (continuing the Patriot Act) and his policy on Indefinite Detention. In both respects, he is IMO, in DIRECT violation of the Constitution and NO BETTER than George Bush. It annoys me that some people are OK with it because it's Obama with the powers and not Bush, granted I DO trust Obama more than Bush, but I still do not believe such powers should reside in anybody's hands. Executive power is taken, never returned...

+1

+2 (except for that voting for and trusting Obama thing)

I commend Obama for continuing the program, but do not trust him.

quote:

Originally posted by GunnyRet03:
I commend Obama for continuing the program, but do not trust him.

+1, Roger That, Gunny