Pennsylvania Bill To Address Detainment Of Terror Suspects On Hold
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - A Pennsylvania Senate committee postponed a vote yesterday on a bill that would direct state and local agencies not to comply with federal law allowing for the "indefinite detention" of people by the United State government.
State Senator Mike Folmer, a Lebanon County Republican, says the precedent was set during the Bush administration, but that the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act for the first time provided statutory authority for presidents to order the military to seize people – including American citizens – and hold them indefinitely without due process.
"Because you are considered a 'possible' terrorist, they could enter your home without a search warrant. The idea of this bill was saying, 'no, our law enforcement agencies here in Pennsylvania do not have to comply with the federal law when it's so vague'."
But a Senate committee vote on the bill sponsored by Folmer was postponed to address what he calls 'misinformation' and concerns by law enforcement about how it would affect their daily duties and possible exposure to civil liability.
