Celebrating Freedom

Washingtonians brace themselves for the flood of tourists who come to soak in the monuments, museums and memorials that attract millions of visitors to the nation’s capital every year. This summer is no exception. In spite of humidity that puts even the hardiest tourist to the test, families come to show the next generation where the people’s business has taken place since 1791. That’s when President George Washington selected what is now the District of Columbia to serve as the nation’s capital. America has expanded its borders, population and... Read more

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Immigration Reform Update

Last week the United States Senate passed an immigration reform bill. Debate on the bill had its ups and downs. The Judiciary Committee’s consideration of the bill was transparent and fair, and I commend Chairman Leahy for that. But, the floor debate was a big disappointment. The bill was on the Senate floor for three weeks, and many of us tried to bring up amendments to make the bill better. But, we were allowed votes on only about a dozen of the 554 amendments. I came into the debate with an open mind. I don’t think there... Read more

Drones and the FBI

The domestic use of drones is an important policy discussion in the Congress. The Senate Judiciary Committee has begun looking at the use of drones by governments and the public and what restrictions exist under current law and the Constitution. The committee is also exploring whether there are sufficient legal safeguards balancing individual privacy and public safety, while ensuring that the law doesn’t stifle innovation. In fact, I asked Attorney General Holder in written questions already last year about the Justice Department’s use of... Read more

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Judiciary not exempt from oversight

The executive branch of the federal government is struggling to regain its footing due to a slew of mistakes that call into question its commitment to the most fundamental constitutional principles of self-government. The revelations are alarming. Consider a few examples of malfeasance now percolating in Washington.

• The Justice Department may have trampled on constitutionally protected news-gathering and reporting rights when it secretly seized more than 20 lines of phone records of the Associated Press.

• The Internal Revenue Service arguably spit on the rights of law-abiding citizens by targeting groups seeking tax-exempt status solely for their perceived political affiliation.

• The National Security... Read more