Arlen Specter is speaking on the Senate Floor regarding his amendment to restore Habaes Corpus.
Red no more's diary: Specter offers amendment restoring habeas rights! provides excellent background and commentary on the subject.
The amendment strikes the federal habeas corpus limitation imposed by the Military Commissions Act and the Detainee Treatment Act by restoring the rights of aliens detained within U.S. territorial jurisdiction to challenge their detention by filing writs of habeas corpus.
The effect of the legislation will ensure that the federal courts of jurisdiction will have the opportunity to hear the nearly 200 habeas corpus applications currently pending on behalf of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The legislation restores jurisdiction and allows those cases to be decided on their merits. It also allows habeas corpus challenges to military commission procedures.
Through Red no more's diary and comments, it is noted that Dodd, Leahy, and Obama have signed on as co-sponsors. Red no more is also asking us to contact our senators and "insist that they support this important amendment!".
I know that many of us have been taken in by Specter's past rhetoric; we've heard him say the "right things" and then have watched him do a 180 when the actual vote happens. Therefore, I'm going to watch and listen with a skeptical eye and not hold my breath.
Also, this amendment would be attached to S.4
S. 4, to make the United States more secure by implementing unfinished recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to fight the war on terror more effectively, to improve homeland security, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:(...)
You know, the one Bush said he would veto because of the inclusion of the TSA union provision...
This is being discussed on the Senate Floor and is viewable on C-Span 2. Here is a handy link for any who would like to stream on-line.