Vote Approves New Powers For Antiterror Investigators
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The House passed legislation to fight money laundering today, then tonight Congressional negotiators reached a deal that could clear the way for the new antiterrorism surveillance and investigatory powers sought by the Bush administration. Under an agreement in principle on the antiterror measure, some of the new powers would expire in four years, a Senate aide said. The time limit, known as a sunset provision, was a critical area of disagreement in the bills passed by the House and Senate. The original House bill called for a three-year limit, to ease the concerns of lawmakers on the left and the right that while the new powers are necessary in the current crisis, they could be subject to abuse. The bill that ultimately passed the House, after intensive negotiation with the Bush administration, called for a five-year limit. Negotiators also reached an agreement to include in the overall anti terrorism legislation provisions intended to fight money laundering. More : query.nytimes.com |