House Passes Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act With Little Discussion or Dissent: Notes from the House Floor “Debate”
From GreenIsTheNewRed.com, the lame duck Congress is moving quickly to regain its pace at passing unconstitutional legislation. Read this one carefully as it describes how the language of this bill has been used to prosecute non-violent activists, charging them with terrorism, for the simple act of running a web site.
They did it. Corporations, industry groups and the politicians that represent them rushed through legislation labeling activists as “terrorists” on the first day back from Congressional recess. Just moments ago the House passed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act as part of the suspension calendar: in other words it was put on a list of non-controversial bills to pass with one swoop by voice vote. More here.
Looking around a bit, I found this article about the AETA bill, and here is discussion over at Democratic Underground. Here is the House bill that passed. And here is the ACLU’s take on it.
Combined with the Military Commissions Act that recently passed, we have now potentially lost (at the whim of the President) Habeas Corpus as well as free speech.
I thought the President swore an oath the DEFEND the Constitution!