Kyl is a police state thug who needs to be removed from office!!! Original Article Kyl criticizes peers on Patriot Act vote Ariz. senator fears dire consequences Billy House Republic Washington Bureau Dec. 17, 2005 12:00 AM WASHINGTON - Warning of potential dire consequences, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., criticized fellow senators who earlier Friday helped block renewal of the post-9/11 anti-terrorism legislation known as the USA Patriot Act. "For our colleagues to allow it to expire is to play with fire," Kyl said, appearing with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and others at a Capitol news conference. He said the security of the country may be at stake. "It is to take the chance that terrorists will not act in that . . . period where the act fails and we're regulated to using the authorities we had before September 11, (2001)," Kyl said. At issue are concerns by opponents that the measure places too few needed restraints on law enforcement agencies seeking terrorists. Kyl was a member of the committee that helped put together the agreement with the House. He said he believed it "totally unrealistic to expect the House to concede even more than they have." And he said the president wouldn't sign it into law, anyhow. He also said he is among those who would object to any short-term extension of the act. "Frankly, my position in many respects was more along the lines of the House position," Kyl said. "I find it pretty difficult to imagine any other changes that could be made that would not deeply cut into the ability of law enforcement and intelligence to do their jobs." But rather than approving what had been a tentative House-Senate agreement to renew the legislation before it expires at the end of the year, the Senate on a 52-47 vote could not get the 60 votes necessary to end debate on the measure. Arizona's other Republican senator, John McCain, joined Kyl in supporting the measure. In a later news release from his office, Kyl said, "God forbid that there be a terrorist attack that could have been prevented by the Patriot Act after it has expired. "If that happens, those who have supported this filibuster will have to answer for it, and the American people will have a very hard time understanding what their objections were." Reach the reporter at billy.house@arizonarepublic.com or 1-(202) 906-8136.