Senate Considers Anti-Terror Package

By Josh Rogers on Wednesday, March 27, 2002.

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An anti-terrorism bill that sped thought the House with broad support in both parties is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

While the measure enjoys strong backing from legislative leaders and the governor, the Judiciary Committee chairman says the plan will likely change before it's passed on to the full chamber.

NHPR's Josh Rogers has more.

The anti-terror bill makes it a felony offense to use or threaten the use of biological and chemical weapons....The bill would also exempt all information regarding terrorism from the stateï¿½s right to know law. To proponents....such policies amount to common senseï¿½ï¿½Governor Shaheen says the bill is needed to protect a vulnerable citizenry.
This developed as a result of event that happen after September 11 itï¿½s important to act now to address a potential situation in the futureï¿½.Thatï¿½s what this legislation does.

If the governorï¿½s tone lacked urgencyï¿½.perhaps itï¿½s because sheï¿½s confident of the measureï¿½s likely passage. The bill cleared the house by a margin of 208 to 147 and boasts bipartisan senate supportï¿½..The measureï¿½s lead sponsor, House speaker pro tem, Robert Clegg was also optimistic.. He stressed that the bill has been vetted by a wide rage of experts.
The ACLU had a representative,ï¿½the attorney from the governorï¿½sï¿½.an attorney of the houseï¿½..the attorney from the municipal associateï¿½..an from the department of safety and an attorney from the attorney generalï¿½s officeï¿½.Six attorney actually agreed it was a good billï¿½..

But critics say the measure is anything butï¿½.According to Portsmouth representative Jim Splaine the plan amounts to a knee jerk reaction.
I donï¿½t think sept 11 changed the world. It changed our paranoia. I think the current laws protect us. I can see state official under this legislationï¿½even though they have good intentï¿½.Saying donï¿½t worry be happyï¿½no commentï¿½.

And under the bill as written, that is indeed possible.ï¿½.Specifically, the bill would allow state, county or municipal officials to bar the release of any information relating to the ï¿½thwarting of a deliberate act that could result in widespread property damage or loss of life.ï¿½ According to Assistant Commissioner of Safety John Stephen that language would allow safety official to do their jobï¿½.without fear important information falls into the wrong hands.
Stephen bite
But some on the senate Committee showed frustration with the heavy handedness of the bill championsï¿½..Committee chairman Ned Gordon expressed confidence the appropriate balance between safety and public trust could be struckï¿½.but said the plan would likely changeï¿½
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The committee is will likely vote on the plan in next week.