'Twas the Season for Congressional Patriot Games
The week leading up to Christmas saw a flurry of activity in Congress as lawmakers fought over reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act, which was set to expire at the end of the year. The battle was set when members of the House approved a conference committee report that a bipartisan group of U.S. senators believes does not do enough to ensure the privacy rights of U.S. citizens.
Booksellers -- both the owners and staff of ABA member stores -- who would like to attend the American Booksellers Association's Winter Institute on January 26 and 27 in Long, Beach, California, can still register for the free event. However, booksellers who require hotel accommodations at the Long Beach Hilton, the event's host hotel, should note that effective this Monday, January 9, the reduced room rate offer for Institute participants will expire.