"Lawmakers send Obama message to end Afghan war" by Donna Cassata, Associated Press / May 27, 2011
WASHINGTON — In other congressional action yesterday, the House and Senate voted to extend the government’s Patriot Act powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists, acting just a month after intelligence and military forces hunted down bin Laden.
Facing a midnight deadline when three terror-fighting tools would expire, the 72-to-23 Senate vote came after three days of stubborn resistance from a single senator, Republican freshman Rand Paul of Kentucky, who saw the terrorist-hunting powers as an abuse of privacy rights. The House passage followed, 250 to 153.
Like father, like son.
Related: SEN RAND PAUL vs SEN HARRY REID "I Rise In Response To A Scurrilous Accusation!"
Rand has really surprised me.
The measure would add four years to the legal life of roving wiretaps — those authorized for a person rather than a communications line or device — of court-ordered searches of business records, and of surveillance of non-American “lone wolf’’ suspects without confirmed ties to terrorist groups.
The White House gave assurances that the provisions would not expire even though Obama is now in Europe and would have to be wakened early to sign it....
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"US proposes cybersecurity incentives" May 13, 2011|Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Companies that run critical US industries such as power plants would get government incentives to make sure their systems are secure from computer-based attacks, the White House said yesterday in detailing a broad proposal to bolster the country’s cybersecurity.
The approach is similar to legislation already in the works. While some criticized it as being too weak, the business community said it preferred a voluntary program rather than government mandates.
Under its proposed legislation, the White House would give the Department of Homeland Security the authority to work with industry officials to come up with ways to protect their computer systems against cyber threats. If a company fails to do so, or comes up with an inadequate plan, the department would develop a security framework for that firm.
The government should encourage the private sector to voluntarily adopt security standards and “avoid a one-size-fits-all, mandated approach,’’ said Phil Bond, president of TechAmerica, which represents 1,200 companies.
But critics say the White House approach has few teeth.
“The administration’s proposal shows no sense of urgency,’’ said Stewart Baker, a former Homeland Security official.
The official debate is between tyranny or MORE tyranny, sigh, Just like it is between war or more war.
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But they can't protect your most sensitive and private information:
Electronic medical records vulnerable
