NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Congress Approves Enhanced Domestic Spying Power

August 5—The Democratic-controlled Congress gave the federal government expansive spying powers on Saturday when it voted to overhaul the country’s wiretapping law.

The revised law will allow the government to monitor billions of phone calls and e-mails within the United States—as well as foreign communications that pass through domestic lines—for possible connections to terrorist activity and security threats. As long as the government decides that those being monitored are targets of a federal probe, a court order won’t be needed.

Republicans hailed the legislation, saying it will protect Americans from terrorist attacks and calling it a much-needed update to an archaic 1978 law covering surveillance, which doesn’t address email and other forms of twenty-first-century communication transmitted largely through fiber optic cables.

Many Democratic lawmakers criticized the bill as unconstitutional, specifically its potential threat to Fourth Amendment rights, and warned that the fight isn’t over. The bill will expire in 180 days, and Democrats have prepared revised legislation for Congress to consider once members return from the August recess.

The Senate passed the measure 60-28 on Friday night, and the House followed Saturday afternoon with a 227-183 vote for approval. Some Democratic members seeking re-election in moderate to conservative districts, including Minnesota Reps. Tim Walz and Collin Peterson, broke party ranks to approve the legislation. —BV

Important Celebrity Gossip You May Have Missed

PAGE 1: INTRODUCTION
PAGE 2: AROUND TOWN
PAGE 3: CRIME
PAGE 4: BUSINESS
PAGE 6: SCRAMBLE
PAGE 7: FALLOUT
PAGE 8: CHATTER