do you find it interesting that in the in the wake of the anthrax pat leahy was ok ok ok let's do this and now he's taking a more deliberative approach no no no he says he's expressed some reservations about it only you know like he said now in support of an amendment but i think the i mean these were originally provisions that we're talking about were originally status on sunset a while back but they were extended on a temporary basis for like fifteen months right and even this new proposal that paul and and make he came up with would still have been active for a long time before they would eventually sunset so this i mean this is i guess it's you know it's one of those temporary government programs that you know never seem to seem to seem to end well it's like you know the pentagon by recording a constitution every two years it has to be renewed basically it's you know the existence of the whole military and they've been doing that pretty well for a long time. has only four democrats voted against a hot how did this go from. well actually when it was the patriot act ever a partisan i

pat leahy in the judiciary committee tom daschle running the senate they were both expressing a lot of reservations anthrax came everyone got frightened it's time for us to tell our legislators and there's no need to be afraid anymore the constitution is strong we can respect. coming up don't mess with texas i'll tell you why lawmakers down there proposed a bill for rest t.s.a. screeners. let's not forget that we had an apartheid regime right here and. i think. even on the well. we have the government says they're going to keep you safe get ready because you get their freedom. you know how sometimes you see a story and it seems so for life you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else and you hear or see some other part of it and realize that everything you thought you knew you don't know i'm charming welcome to the big picture. so if you don't have plans to fly to texas for a summer vacation if so it may be time to reconsider that texas independent streak is showing itself again as these texas state legislature is considering a bill that allows state police to arr

and here's the final sentence and why pat leahy is a friend of the united states senate and really is a legend in the senate. "if time runs out for consideration of the leahy amendment, mr. leahy should offer a stand-alone bill later to make reporting requirements the law." i appreciate very much senator leahy being his usual team player. mr. leahy: madam president, if the senator would yield for just a moment, he referred to that last line that if this is not brought up, it should be offered as a free-standing bill. i assure the leader it will be offered as a free-standing bill. and i hope because of the bipartisan support of it it could be brought up at some point. mr. reid: madam president, this is an extremely important plateau we've reached. it's been very difficult for everyone. but now this bill can go to the president of the united states if these amendments are defeated, which i hope they are. will be to the president tonight before the deadline of this bill; this bill will not lapse. even though the senator from kentucky, senator paul, and i have had some differences, what w

with local law enforcement across the country, and i hope that democrats, led by judiciary chairman pat leahy, who is here, as well as republicans in congress will join together in extending the leadership for the sake of our nation's safety and security. we've also got several elite the officials here today, and i am grateful for their service and support of law enforcement. and obviously i want to welcome the leaders of the national association of police organizations, including your president, tom nee, and if your executive director, william johnson. [applause] and most importantly, congratulations to the 30 officers, sheriffs, detectives, investigators come agents who are behind me -- ellen nations tops cops -- right here. [applause] we've got the montana crew hollering. that was missoula, right? [applause] there you go. i know the families are just bursting with pride for your loved ones accomplishments, but your love and support has had a lot to do with those accomplishments. so again, we are grateful to you. this is the third year i've had the honor of welcoming americas tops cops to t

before recognizing senator klobuchar, i'd like to place in the record the statement of our chairman, pat leahy. and he, too, refers, senator, to the confirmation of professor mcconnell. i'd like to just quote one thing. professor mcconnell's own provocative writings, included staunch advocacy for re-examining the first amendment free exercise clause, the establishment clause, jurisprudence, he expressed strong opposition to roe v. wade and to the clinic access while. he testified before congress that he believed that the violence against women act was unconstitutional. his writings on the actions of federal district court judge john sprizzo in equity and abortion protesters could not be read as anything other than praise for the legal behavior of both defendants and the judge. and he was confirmed, and members on this site gave him the benefit of the doubt. >> madam chairman, i appreciate that and i don't dispute anything you said, and i do believe judge mcconnell did what he promised to do. my only point is there is no recourse for the committee or for the senate in voting to confirm a nomine