Congress Reverses Posse Comitatus Act Changes

JBS.com
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 4986), which Congress passed on January 22 and President Bush signed into law on January 28, contained language that effectively repealed revisions to the Posse Comitatus Act made in 2006. The 2006 language made it easier for a president to declare martial law. A wide range of freedom-loving individuals had opposed the expansion of police powers granted to the federal government as part of the ongoing "war on terror.” In an address before the House of Representatives on May 22, 2007, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) cited "the changes made to the Insurrection Act of 1807 and to Posse Comitatus by the Defense Authorization Act of 2007." Because of that act, warned Paul, "martial law can be declared not just for 'insurrection' but also for 'natural disasters, public health reasons, terrorist attacks or incidents' or for the vague reason called 'other conditions.'"
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Posted by Editor at May 9, 2008 10:31 AM