House resolution asks caution in Patriot Act use

AUGUSTA – After a debate that at times centered on whether they should be debating the subject at all, House representatives endorsed a resolution Friday urging Congress to make sure anti-terrorism legislation such as the Patriot Act does not compromise civil liberties.

The House adopted the resolution routinely after an effort to derail it failed 51-73.

The vote fell close to party lines, and debate was by turns emotional and heated, with one lawmaker, Republican Rep. Brian Duprey of Hampden, drawing a strong rebuke from Democratic Speaker Patrick Colwell for making a derogatory reference to the measure, which now moves to the Senate.

Colwell also told the House to “respect each other and respect this institution.”

Resolutions regarding matters outside the jurisdiction of the Legislature are not uncommon. Neither are complaints that lawmakers should focus on topics and issues directly before them.

The Maine Republican Party issued a statement Friday in which Republican lawmakers called for an end to debate on federal issues.

“These joint resolutions on federal issues are a frivolous use of taxpayer money and far too frequent,” said Rep. Theodore Heidrich, R-Oxford.

But other lawmakers said addressing concerns of constituents and promoting democratic values by exercising constitutional rights was merely responsible.

On the merits of the federal act itself, Democratic Rep. Deborah Hutton of Bowdoinham asserted that “we can protect ourselves without taking away our civil liberties.”

The resolution would have lawmakers “inform” the president and Congress that “the Maine State Legislature supports the government of the United State of America in its campaign against terrorism and affirms its commitment that the campaign not be waged at the expense of essential civil rights and liberties of this country contained in the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.”

Passed shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the Patriot Act expanded the government’s wiretap and other surveillance authority, removed barriers between FBI and CIA information sharing and provided more tools for terror finance investigations.

President Bush has urged Congress to renew key provisions that expire in 2005, and early campaign advertising by Bush says Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry, the senator from Massachusetts, wants to weaken the act.

On Friday, House Minority Leader Joe Bruno, R-Raymond, termed the legislative debate “unfortunate.”

Suggesting politics at play, he asked: “Could it be that it’s a presidential election year?”

Democratic Rep. William Norbert of Portland said the breadth of the federal legislation was a primary concern and that debate was appropriate.

“It’s a very patriotic thing to do,” he said.

After voting on the measure, the House adjourned for the weekend. The Senate did not hold a session Friday.