Morning Miscellaneous

So after my navelgazing of last night, I come up with more one-liners:

Will Bush break out the veto pen after the House votes to keep the "Patriot" (sic) Act out of bookstores and libraries?

The House voted 238-187 to scale back the government's powers to conduct secret investigations that were authorized by the Patriot Act, a post-Sept. 11 anti-terrorism law.

"We can fight terrorism without undermining basic constitutional rights. That's what the message of today is about," said Rep. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who pushed the measure through the House with the support of 38 Republicans.

John Conyers looks at drug sentencing, with paricular focus on the women who are often bystanders: "We need rational sentencing policy that encompasses such measures as fair and equitable sentencing, treatment instead of incarceration, drug courts, reentry programs, and restored judicial discretion."

...while Iowa City, with its usual sense of priorities, effectiveness and realism, wants to raise PAULA fines.