Douglas County, WI

RESOLUTION #59-03

RESOLUTION BY THE DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Subject: USA Patriot Act

WHEREAS, Douglas County, Wisconsin, recognizes the Constitution of the United States of America to be the supreme law of the land, which all public servants are sworn to uphold, superceding all administrative rules, local ordinances, state statutes and federal laws, and

WHEREAS, Douglas County, Wisconsin, recognizes that the Bill of Rights, as represented in Exhibit H-5-03, embodies the rights of citizenship that have made the United States of America the land of freedom for more than 200 years, and

WHEREAS, Douglas County, Wisconsin, and the United States have benefited greatly through the constitutional rights and liberties afforded their diverse citizenry, in freedom of speech and assembly, equality before the law and the presumption of innocence, access to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and

WHEREAS, Douglas County, Wisconsin, affirms its strong opposition to terrorism, and further affirms that any efforts to end terrorism not be waged at the expense of our civil rights and liberties, and 

WHEREAS, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, in an effort to unite and strengthen America, and to combat terrorism, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act, and 

WHEREAS, it has become apparent that the USA Patriot Act weakens the constitutional protections for every United States citizen as follows:
(1) First Amendment rights, which guarantee ""freedom of religion, of speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances,"" are
compromised by USA Patriot Act, Sections 802 and 215;
(2) Fourth Amendment protections, which guarantee the ""right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,"" are compromised by USA Patriot Act Sections 203, 206, 213, and 218; and
(3) Fifth Amendment protections of due process and attorney -client confidentiality are compromised.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Douglas County Board of Supervisors expresses deep concern over any compromise of constitutional freedoms which protect civil rights and liberties for all people of the United States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Douglas County Board of Supervisors affirms its strong opposition to terrorism, but also affirms that any efforts to end terrorism should not be waged at the expense of fundamental civil rights and liberties, and that a threat to one person's constitutional rights is a threat to the rights of all.
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED that the Douglas County Board of Supervisors requests that United States representatives and senators closely monitor implementation of the USA Patriot Act, as well as Executive Orders issued pursuant to the Act, and actively work to repeal those Sections of the USA Patriot Act that threaten the essential civil rights and liberties of all Americans.

BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED, that any enhancement to the USA Patriot Act, such as USA Patriot Act II (aka Domestic Security Act of 2003), be forestalled until such time as enhancements or changes are done in full view of American citizens.

BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED that upon passage, a copy of this resolution shall be provided to Governor James Doyle, Senator Robert Jauch, Representative Frank Boyle, each Wisconsin congressional delegate, United States Attorney General John Ashcroft, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and President George W. Bush.

Dated this 15th day of May, 2003.