Lawmaker Criticizes Dallas Over Patriot Act Vote

[Shaun]

Finally a city that won't work with the Patriot act.


Lawmaker Criticizes Dallas Over Patriot Act Vote

Wednesday, January 14, 2004



Some city council members in Dallas want to benefit from homeland security money but are opposed to the Patriot Act (search), a conflict that has the city doing the Texas two-step and one congressman crying foul.

Rep. Pete Sessions (search), R-Texas, recently spoke to the Dallas city council and told members they are insincere if they accept $3.5 million in homeland security money and then pass a resolution against the law that paved the way for the funding.

"I do believe that that's wrong for the Dallas city council, for anybody to say they are opposed to some concept, but give me the money," Sessions said.

But city council members say they are concerned that the provisions in the Patriot Act infringe on civil rights and the members proposing the resolution say those provisions and the Patriot Act are not directly linked to the money.

"I don't see any insincerity or inappropriateness," said Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Donald Hill. "If it's Congressman Sessions' viewpoint that they should in fact go together, I disagree with it ... the Patriot Act and homeland security are two separate issues."

The Dallas city council will vote on its position Wednesday.