View Single Post
Old 01-17-2008, 03:41 PM   #12 (permalink)
dc_dux
 
dc_dux's Avatar
 
Location: Washington DC
I would not rely on a Wiki-type interpretation, upstart or otherwise. There is far too much opportunity for partisan interpretations.

One of the functions of the Congressional Research Service is to provide a brief abstract of every bill when its introduced and a section-by-section summary when a bill is passed.
Quote:

Upon introduction of a bill or resolution in the House or Senate, legislative analysts in the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress write an abstract that objectively describes the measure's most significant provisions in approximately 250 words or fewer.

When a measure receives action (i.e., it is reported from a committee or passed by the House or Senate), the analysts then write a fuller digest, detailing the measure's effect upon programs and current law. Additional digests are prepared for each major action. A final Public Law summary is prepared upon enactment into law.

Each summary is identified with the date and version of the measure it describes (e.g., "7/26/2002 – Passed House, amended"). The CRS Summary will always present the most recent summary available.
Summary of USA PATRIOT (link may be temporary)

Go to thomas.loc.gov ....search a bill number, and the CRS summary is available.

Probably still too wordy for some, but fair to say its more objective than any outside sites.
__________________
"The perfect is the enemy of the good."
~ Voltaire

Last edited by dc_dux; 01-17-2008 at 03:45 PM..
dc_dux is offline  
 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73