Question:

Do you regret voting to authorize the Patriot Act? As a Democrat, how do you justify having voted that way?

Asked by: Misty Fowler from Salt Lake City, UT

Asked of U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) on Dec 14th, 2007
Categories: Civil Liberties · Homeland Security · President Bush. Tags: Patriot Act.
34
votes
Answer:

Answer from: U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT)

Well, the questioner is incorrect. I actually voted against extending the PA. On the initial vote right which was after 9/11, yes, I voted along with almost every Democrat and Republican in Congress to create the Patriot Act which had a limited term to it. When that term was expiring and it came up to be extended, I voted ‘no,’ because I didn’t think it was appropriate to extend it permanently. So that’s how I treated that issue. I think it was important for us as an institution to keep some time frames or some limitations on how that Act could be implemented. And that’s why I voted ‘no’ when it was up for- to be made permanent.

Answered on Mar 17th, 2008

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