Susan Crabtree reports: The Obama administration is standing firm in its support of several George W. Bush-era Patriot Act powers in the face of sharp criticism from civil rights groups, liberal Democrats and a Dec. 31 deadline to extend key provisions of the bill. The Justice Department recently reiterated its request for Congress to extend…
Category: U.S.
Leaders set to include ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal in defense authorization bill
Eric Zimmermann reports: Democratic leaders plan to repeal the military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in next year’s defense authorization bill. Both the White House and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) back the strategy of using the defense bill to change policy on gays in the military, an aide to Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told The…
Groups urge Obama to move on Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
Today CDT and 28 other civil liberties and public interest groups sent a letter to the White House voicing concern about the absence of nominations by President Obama to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. “The Board is one of the few safeguards put into place to protect privacy and civil liberties following the…
WI: State Supreme Court hears teacher e-mail case
Adam Wise reports: After more than two years of debate, the fate of an open records request involving Wisconsin Rapids teacher e-mail messages now rests with the state’s highest court. Seven State Supreme Court justices spent more than an hour Tuesday morning questioning an attorney representing the Wisconsin Rapids School District and one representing five…