This is the third of many weekly analysis pieces detailing what Congressman Platts has voted on, or bills that he has sponsored/co-sponsored. Mike Koffenberger - Libertarian Candidate U.S. House of Representatives District 19 PAI will briefly describe his action, the bill, and then detail how I would handle the same. Since it is not my full time job to read the entire bill (yet – with your help), I will read the summaries and base my decisions on those. I will also try and describe how libertarian principles apply in my decisions. During weeks that Congressman Platts is not in session or co-sponsoring bills, I will re-visit some of his older votes on legislation that has a had detrimental effect on our liberties.

This week, was a “light” week for voting on legislation. Since there are not many bills to discuss, I will use this opportunity to revisit one of Congressman Platts’ older votes and discuss what I would do differently.

Congressman Platts votes consistently in favor of the PATRIOT Act and all of its renewals (HR 3199 Dec 2005, and most recently HR 514, Feb 2011). Protecting our country from terrorist attacks is obviously a good thing, however the PATRIOT Act violates our rights under the Constitution…especially those guaranteed from the 4th Amendment.

As a police officer, I have been involved with hundreds of search warrants. There is no reason to allow a federal agent to ever not need a warrant for a search (or a court order for a wiretap). There are protections in place for obtaining one. The agent would have to write the warrant. Most likely a supervisor would review it. Then a judge/magistrate would review the warrant and decide if probable cause exists for issuing the warrant or wiretap. In extreme emergency situations, a scene could be secured to protect lives, and then, prior to any searching, a warrant could be obtained. This is the checks and balances in place between the executive and judicial branches of government. I would be the first person to defend someone in law enforcement, because I know what the job entails, however there are bad apples and overzealous people in every occupation. Those types of agents would take advantage of the provisions in the PATRIOT Act.

The PATRIOT Act legislation has also somewhat redefined what terrorism is, and it now includes many non-terrorist activities (marches, demonstrations and civil disobedience) as potential terrorist activities. Your rights of assembly and free speech are threatened by such legislation.

Under the PATRIOT Act, your private records are subject to review by a federal agent. Your employment records, medical records, school records, library records, bank records and internet browsing are all easier to review. Do you think that you still have privacy?

Is it acceptable to suspend the rights guaranteed in the Constitution for any reason? I do not believe so. Our liberty has been legislated away with each renewal of the PATRIOT Act and its provisions. Liberty can never be exchanged for security. I would submit legislation for a full repeal of the PATRIOT Act and all of its provisions. The national Libertarian Party also calls for a full repeal of the PATRIOT Act.

One must also seriously look at the “War on Terror.” Terrorism is a tactic and the battlefield is everywhere…including the United States. This definition allows the “War on Terror” to potentially go on forever. Over time, if left in place, the PATRIOT Act legislation would only be added to. More of our liberties would be jeopardized. More of our privacy lost.

This week was again short on Congressman Platts co-sponsoring legislation, and yet another week lost without him submitting a bill to return our lost liberties, regain fiscal sanity, bring our troops home, or return our government to its Constitutional limitations. This is one of the main reasons that I am challenging him in the 2012 elections. To my knowledge, he has never submitted one bill that would greatly affect a return to the principles above. He has been a consistent vote to the Republican Party and other leaders, while submitting small pieces of legislation that further regulate every facet of our lives.

For Liberty,
Mike Koffenberger
Libertarian Candidate, U.S. House of Representatives
District 19 – PA
www.mikeforpa.com