(no subject)
Dec. 16th, 2005 03:12 pmFrom CNN.com:
Senate fails to reauthorize Patriot Act
Threat of filibuster of controversial measure successful
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate on Friday refused to reauthorize major portions of the USA Patriot Act after critics complained they infringed too much on Americans' privacy and liberty, dealing a huge defeat to the Bush administration and Republican leaders.
In a crucial vote early Friday, the bill's Senate supporters were not able to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster by Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, and Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and their allies. The final vote was 52-47.
They also supported new safeguards and expiration dates to the act's two most controversial parts: authorization for roving wiretaps, which allow investigators to monitor multiple devices to keep a target from evading detection by switching phones or computers; and secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries.
...If a compromise is not reached, the 16 Patriot Act provisions expire on December 31. Investigators will still be able to use those powers to complete any investigation that began before the expiration date, according to a provision in the original law.
---------
Doing a little happy dance,
benjamin