HEADLINE: Senate Rejects Clinton Proposal To Allow Terrorist Case Wiretaps; Several Democrats Join Solid Republican Majority in 52-28 Vote
”The Senate yesterday rejected President Clinton's proposal to allow emergency wiretaps in terrorism cases as both houses began work on counter-terrorism legislation in response to the April 19 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City.
”The wiretap proposal was rejected, 52 to 28, with several Democratic civil libertarians joining a unified Republican majority in rejecting the Clinton wiretap initiative.
”Noting the government already has emergency authority to wiretap without a court order in cases against organized crime, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) said that if the government ‘can mess up a Gambino family picnic,’ it should be allowed to eavesdrop on terrorists. ‘When was the last time the Mafia blew up a building?’ asked Biden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
”But Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) said the proposal went too far and could be used to infringe on the civil liberties of domestic political groups and chill the right of legitimate dissent
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