By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – As the state stands at the second-highest level of alert for terrorism, Republican Governor George Pataki and Democratic Attorney General Eliot Spitzer released a package of proposed laws Monday to better investigate and more severely punish acts of terrorism.
Most of the bills were approved by the Republican-controlled Senate last year, but not by Democrats in the State Assembly.
The bills include elevating some offenses involving chemical or biological weapons to the top level of felony, punishable by life in prison without the chance of parole. The anti-terror package would also create an offense of money laundering for terrorism; create a crime of conspiracy to commit terrorism; and permit "roving wiretaps" to track cellular telephone calls.
Spitzer said the federal government is not in the fight against terrorism alone. He said the states must act to protect themselves through increased cooperation, greater vigilance and stronger state laws.