Senator Patrick Leahy .. Obama doesn't need Congress to End Bulk Collection

[Ichingcarpenter]

Senator Leahy: If President Obama Is Serious About Ending Bulk Collection, He Can Just End It This Friday


from the easy-peasy dept


As expected, President Obama outlined basic plans for ending bulk collection of phone records. While the actual details of the plan still haven't been revealed, apparently, the administration has some "enabling legislation" ready to go, which it hopes Congress will pass "quickly."


In response to this, Senator Patrick Leahy pointed out that while he's very supportive of the move to end bulk collection of phone records, there's a much easier way to accomplish that. The authority to do so technically runs out on Friday of this week, so if the President wants to end the program, he can just not seek to renew the authority:


I look forward to having meaningful consultation with the administration on these matters and reviewing its proposal to evaluate whether it sufficiently protects Americans’ privacy. In the meantime, the President could end bulk collection once and for all on Friday by not seeking reauthorization of this program. Rather than postponing action any longer, I hope he chooses this path.



http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140325/10280026681/senator-leahy-if-president-obama-is-serious-about-ending-bulk-collection-he-can-just-end-it-this-friday.shtml

[jeff47]

1. He does if he wants a future president to not start it back up again.

He also does if he wants the phone companies to not sell the same information to anyone with a checkbook.

A "background check" bought on the Internet will reveal every place you've ever lived, every phone number you've ever had, every employer you've ever worked for. It may have salary/wage info. It will list your relatives and all their contact information. Heck, it lists the first 5 digits of your SSN.

Stopping that requires Congress.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. He could do both

its not rocket science.