Press Release on Patriot Act Renewal
For Immediate Release
December 16, 2005
Contact: Brett Garner
Office: 801.983.7383
Cell: 801.573.4759
brett@pashdown.org

Ashdown Press Release
"Patriot Act renewal means fewer liberties, less security"

SALT LAKE CITY, UT--Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for the US Senate, made
the following statement on the debate of H.R. 3199, USA PATRIOT and Terrorism
Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005:

"I oppose reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act in the form now presented to the
Senate. The provisions of the Patriot Act which increased communication and
efficiency between law enforcement agencies are fine and I have no argument
with. What I take issue is the stripping of privacy between the citizen and
the state. Much of what the Patriot Act does is side-step the Fourth
Amendment. I believe the citizen should be opaque and the state should be
transparent, not the other way around.

"Specifically, I support the portions of the Act which increase funding for
first responders and facilitate their inter-agency communications.  We must
ensure that law enforcement can legally coordinate activities to protect
Americans.

"I strongly oppose components of the Patriot Act that continue to violate our
Constitutionally-protected freedoms.  Individual privacy as specifically
assured by the Fourth Amendment covers our 'persons, houses, papers, and
effects' and abuses of the Patriot Act have shown that this has not been
respected.

"Senator Hatch's assertion that failure to renew would enable and encourage
terror is an example of the divisive, fear-based politics that I am trying to
fight against. Arguments about the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of
legislation should be based on facts and research, not an attempt to frighten
opponents into submission.

"As a Senator, I would fight to implement the recommendations of the 9/11
Commission, which they recently gave two 'D' grades to the Government in this
area. I would propose and fund the creation of a Privacy and Civil Liberties
Oversight Board. Senator Hatch, as a member of the Judiciary committee with
all of his powers, has failed to act on the President's nominations of a chair
and vice-chair of this board, let alone fund its creation. As part of that
board's creation, I would support intensive Congressional oversight and the
creation of guidelines for government protection of personal information."