Ohio clampdown: the PATRIOT Act and the states.

• Author: Walker, Jesse
• Position: Citings - Brief Article

SINCE 2002 four states and 370 local governments have passed resolutions condemning the PATRIOT Act. Some of the measures don't stop with a strongly worded statement. Toledo, Ohio, for example, asked its librarians to post a warning that "records of the books and other materials you borrow from this library may be obtained by federal agents. That federal law prohibits librarians from informing you if records about you have been obtained by federal agents. Questions about this policy should be directed to: Attorney General John Ashcroft, Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530."

Four other Ohio cities have denounced the PATRIOT Act--and, in some cases, asked their employees to work around it to whatever extent the law allows. Soon they may face a new regulation restraining such resolutions. In March the state Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 9, nicknamed the Ohio Patriot Act, which would "restrict municipal ordinances and other enactments from materially hindering or preventing compliance with immigration or terrorism investigations or with federal laws or orders...