Baby Steps

Yesterday, the House voted to limit the FBI's ability to seize library and bookstore records under the Patriot Act. One part of the Patriot Act allows the FBI to obtain those records without the usual due process of a search warrant from a judge or grand jury. Instead, the records can be grabbed on an order from a secret "surveillance court," where the standard of proof is much lower.

In essence, this provision allows the FBI to go on fishing expeditions- who needs probable cause? It's just one part of the massive government intrusion into our privacy that is known as the Patriot Act. While the House's action is by no means an end to the Patriot Act, at least it's a step in the right direction.

President Bush is threatening to veto the bill.