William Safire has a list of reasons why we should oppose the Homeland Security Act, most chillingly the Total Information Awareness.

I oppose this bill because it includes the Cyber Security Enhancement Act among other things. See my Letter to Benjamin Cardin, November 14, 2002 for more details about this.

November 19, 2002 - CNN reports that the Homeland bill advances in Senate. The bill in it's current form would protect pharmaceutical companies for liability from vaccines they create or have created in the past, protect airport screeners and companies who product "anti-terrorism" products from liability. It would also allow companies to receive federal funding even when they move their headquarters offshore to avoid Federal taxes, and allow the new Department of Homeland Security to hold committee meetings in secret, out of the view of United States citizens.

Update: The Homeland Security Act passed the Senate on November 19, 2002 with a vote of 90-9. Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes voted against the bill, while Barbara Mikulski voted for it.

How can we expect the Federal Bureau of Investigations to wield this power responsibly when even their own watch lists and memos escape their control and stomping on people's reputation and good character?

How anyone could listen to the opposition speech by Ron Paul in the House and still vote for this bill is beyond me.

The bill passed the House with 299 in favor to 121 opposed.

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