Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan leaped into the debate over the World Trade Center attack Monday by using his post as attorney general to push proposals that would make it easier to eavesdrop on alleged terrorists.
Ryan sent a letter to Gov. George Ryan and the four legislative leaders asking for quick action on a package of bills in a special session, the upcoming fall veto session or next year’s spring session.
“The attorney general realizes that the primary responsibility to respond to domestic terrorism belongs to the federal government but that states do have a role to play,” said Dan Curry, spokesman for the attorney general. “They have a shared responsibility.”
Jim Ryan and other candidates for public office are grappling with how to get attention while news coverage is saturated with national stories about the deadly terrorist hijackings.
Meanwhile, Corinne Wood, one of Jim Ryan’s GOP rivals for governor, used her role as lieutenant governor to send out press advisories and fliers saying she will be with the governor at Illinois’ disaster memorial service.
One attorney general proposal would add domestic terrorism to the list of alleged offenses being investigated by state or local authorities in which wiretapping could be used with court approval. Another proposal, emulating one put forth on the federal level by U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft, would let local authorities listen to conversations involving a particular individual on any phone.
The proposals also would let a judge issue a search warrant over the phone in terrorist cases, require background checks of people training to fly and create strong forfeiture provisions for people who contribute to a terrorist network.
