NEWS from Senator Mike Lee and Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Lee And Senator Leahy Introduce The USA Liberty Act In The Senate
. . . Key Privacy Improvements For FISA
(FRIDAY, Nov. 17, 2017) — Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) have jointly introduced the Uniting and Strengthening American Liberty Act (USA Liberty Act) of 2017 in the United States Senate. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act will expire on December 31, 2017. This legislation would reauthorize Section 702 while making key privacy improvements.
Section 702 allows the government to collect sweeping amounts of Internet and other communications, including content and metadata, by targeting communications of foreigners abroad. But in doing so, the government also acquires a vast amount of Americans’ communications and is able to search through such collection without a warrant or even a court order. The Lee-Leahy legislation would apply stricter limits on the government’s ability to search Section 702 collection for communications of Americans and persons inside the United States, to ensure this surveillance is consistent with the Fourth Amendment.
The bill is modeled after legislation of the same name introduced in the House of Representatives by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Member John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.). Last Congress, Senators Lee and Leahy partnered with the same House Judiciary leaders to pass the historic USA FREEDOM Act, which ended NSA bulk metadata collection and contained significant reforms to other surveillance authorities.
Both the House bill, which earlier this month was reported out of the House Judiciary Committee in a strong bipartisan vote, and this Senate companion bill contain long-overdue reforms to this powerful surveillance authority. They codify an end to “about” collection, enhance accountability, and increase protections for queries of Section 702 metadata, among other important reforms. The Senate legislation also contains a provision based on an amendment that Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced in the Senate Intelligence Committee that closes the so-called “backdoor” loophole by extending warrant protections to Americans and persons inside the United States for queries of Section 702 contents in both national security and ordinary criminal investigations.
Senator Lee said: “Americans have never been more concerned about the security and privacy of their online communications than they are today. This bill implements some much needed reforms to our surveillance laws that will better protect law-abiding Americans' privacy in a manner consistent with the 4th Amendment."
Senator Leahy said: “I am proud to again join with Senator Lee to ensure that appropriate and commonsense limits are applied to the government’s vast surveillance powers. This legislation maintains a critical balance between protecting national security and ensuring the privacy rights and civil liberties of law-abiding Americans, and also provides additional oversight and transparency. It is my hope that this bipartisan legislation will result in real and meaningful reform to this powerful surveillance tool.”
Leading civil liberties and national security advocates have praised the legislation:
Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program, said: “This bill fixes the most serious problem with Section 702 surveillance today: the government’s ability to read Americans’ e-mails and listen to their telephone calls without a warrant,” and called the legislation “a very promising development in the reform debate.”
The legislation is also supported by the civil liberties and civil rights community, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Constitution Project, New America’s Open Technology Institute, and the Project on Government Oversight.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
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NFIB Calls on Senators to Support Tax Reform Bill
Pass-through tax reduction is essential for Utah small businesses
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 17, 2017—The National Federation of Independent Business today called on Utah U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee to support the U.S. Senate’s tax reform bill, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
“The Senate’s plan for tax reform will undoubtedly strengthen our economy and empower the small-business sector,” said Candace Daly, NFIB’s Utah state director. “Not only will it create a tax deduction of 17.4 percent for pass-through businesses with less than $500,000 in income, it will also allow service providers like plumbers and electricians to benefit from this substantial tax reduction. Small businesses have been crying out for tax reform for decades. We would hate to see Congress fail to seize this historic opportunity for real, lasting, and beneficial change.”
A vote on the tax bill is expected before the end of the year. Daly pointed out that 99 percent of businesses in Utah are small businesses, and three-quarters of those are organized as pass-throughs, which pay tax on business income at the pass-through tax rates and not at the corporate tax rate. Such entities include any company that is organized as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, LLC, or S Corporation.
“Tax reform is imperative for Utah small businesses, and we are counting on our senators to support the measure,” Daly said. “This bill ensures that tax-reform benefits will extend beyond large corporations and provide relief to those organized as pass-throughs, as well. The millions of independent, small businesses that form the backbone of our economy would finally see a tax reduction thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”
More information about NFIB’s position on tax reform can be read here.
With 350,000 dues-paying members nationwide, including 3,500 in Utah, NFIB is the nation’s largest and leading small-business association. You can follow NFIB/Utah on Twitter, NFIB_UT, or on its webpage, www.nfib.com/utah, where you’ll find this news release posted.
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For 74 years, the National Federation of Independent Business has been the Voice of Small Business, taking the message from Main Street to the halls of Congress and all 50 state legislatures. NFIB annually surveys its members on state and federal issues vital to their survival as America's economic engine and biggest creator of jobs. NFIB’s educational mission is to remind policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of bigger businesses; they have very different challenges and priorities.
National Federation of Independent Business/Utah
1296 West 475 South
Farmington, Utah 84025
801-599-8519
www.nfib.com/utah
Twitter: @NFIB_UT
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Governor appoints Camille Neider to Second District Court
SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 17, 2017) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Camille Neider to the Second District Court.
“Camille Neider has distinguished herself as a knowledgeable, thoughtful attorney who has experience and skills that will make her a fine jurist,” Gov. Herbert said. “If confirmed, Camille will take the bench following an impressive legal career, and will bring with her a sincere desire to provide public service.”
Neider is currently a managing partner at Hutchison, Neider PC in Ogden, Utah, where she manages a law office that specializes in criminal defense. From 1998 to 2007, Neider was a deputy Weber County attorney, where she prosecuted and managed all aspects of felony criminal cases and trials, and was responsible for law and motion work, plea negotiations, preliminary hearings, suppression hearings, competency hearings, trials, sentencing and post-sentencing hearings. From 1996 to 1998, Neider was an attorney with the Utah County Public Defender Association. Neider was also previously an associate attorney with McDougal & Smith Law Offices and was an assistant lecturer at J. Reuben Clark Law School. Neider completed four clerkships, including for the Utah County attorney, Utah County Public Defender Association, in the Chamber of Michael Hill in London, England and for the Fourth Judicial District Court. She received a B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University and a J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.
“I am grateful and humbled to be appointed to the Second District Court by Gov. Herbert. I accept the charge to be fair, impartial and dedicated to upholding the rule of law,” Neider said. “I look forward to serving the people of the second district and intend to do all I can to further the integrity and trust the public has in the judiciary.”
Subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate, Neider will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Brent West on Dec. 29, 2017.
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Governor Gary R. Herbert’s Schedule
November 20, 2017 - November 24, 2017
**The Governor’s schedule is subject to frequent change**
Monday, November 20
10:30 a.m. Department of Technology Services Award Presentation
Location: State Capitol, Gold Room
Media Access
11:00 a.m. Meet with Staff
Location: Governor’s Office
12:00 p.m. German-American Friendship Award Luncheon
Location: Salt Lake City
2:00 p.m. Meet with Chief of Staff
Location: Governor’s Office
2:30 p.m. Governor’s Leadership Team
Location: Governor’s Office
4:00 p.m. Farewell Event for General Counsel
Location: Governor’s Office
Tuesday, November 21
9:00 a.m. Education Excellence Commission
Location: State Capitol
12:00 p.m. Annual Turkey Pardon Event
Location: State Capitol, Plaza
Media Availability
1:30 p.m. Meet with Utahns Against Hunger
Location: Governor’s Office
2:00 p.m. San Juan County Economic Development Planning Meeting
Location: Governor’s Office
3:30 p.m. Visit The Other Side Academy
Location: Salt Lake City
Wednesday, November 22
9:00 a.m. Altus Group Award Event
Location: Ken Garff Building, Salt Lake City
Media Availability
10:45 a.m. Visit Rescue Mission
Location: Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, Salt Lake City
Thursday, November 23
All Day — Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 24
No Public Events
Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox’s Schedule
November 20, 2017 - November 24, 2017
**The Lt. Governor’s schedule is subject to frequent change**
Monday, November 20
Puerto Rico Humanitarian Trip
Flight from Puerto Rico to SLC
Tuesday, November 21
1:30 p.m. Meet with Staff
Location: Lt. Governor’s Office
2:00 p.m. State Bonding Commission
Location: Lt. Governor’s Office
2:30 p.m. State Building Ownership
Location: Lt. Governor’s Office
3:00 p.m. Operation Rio Grande Meeting
Location: Lt. Governor’s Office
5:00 p.m. Serve Dinner to Syrian Refugees with Family
Location: Catholic Community Services, Salt Lake City
Wednesday, November 22
11:00 a.m. Serve at Rescue Mission with Family
Location: Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, Salt Lake City
Thursday, November 23
All Day — Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 24
No Public Events
