Secret Patriot Act sessions wrong

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Barring the unexpected, America again will take a step toward becoming less "American" today.

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is expected not only to reauthorize the already intrusive Patriot Act that curtails civil liberties in the name of security; it will expand the government's powers to invade your privacy, with little oversight to guard against overzealous or abusive investigations.

What's worse, this committee decided to discuss and possibly vote on the measures in secret, closed-door sessions today, undermining open government that makes America what it is. Regardless of the outcome of today's proceedings, the public's business should not be done in secret.