It is always important to protect our Constitutional rights.  I carefully scrutinize any bill that might threaten these rights.  I was originally very reluctant to support the PATRIOT Act because of fears that the bill could violate Constitutional rights.  Former Congressman Bob Barr was a champion for protecting our civil liberties and he and I pushed for several changes to the bill that included safeguards to protect the rights of Americans.

The PATRIOT Act expanded police monitoring and investigation into our libraries and bookstores, which I believe, was well intended.  However, there needs to be a balance between our national security and our constitutional rights.  That is why I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 1157, which would exempt libraries and bookstores from parts of the PATRIOT Act that allow government access to rental and purchase records.  While law enforcement needs all of the tools available to enforce the criminal code, the government should not infringe on our civil liberties.