Senators introduce bipartisan Patriot Act extension bill News
Senators introduce bipartisan Patriot Act extension bill

[JURIST] While amended measures to extend the Patriot Act were approved Wednesday by the House Intelligence Committee [JURIST report] and the House Judiciary Committee [JURIST report], Senators introduced their own bipartisan bill setting restrictions and time limits. SB 1389, introduced by Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) [official website] would provide for increased reporting of how the act is used, increase requirements for certain warrants, wiretaps, and electronic monitoring, and make three controversial parts of the act – including roving wiretaps and library monitoring [New York Times report] temporary rather than permanent. Senator Feinstein's office has issued a press release. The Bush Administration has pushed for a complete renewal of the act, while civil liberties groups and Russ Feingold (D-WI), the only Senator to vote against the original Patriot Act [Senate floor speech, October 2001], said the new legislation doesn't do enough to protect individual rights. The Washington Post has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.