Renewal of Patriot Act blocked in Senate

[irishgrl]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051216/...ity_patriot_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of U.S. senators, demanding increased protection of civil liberties, defied President George W. Bush on Friday by blocking renewal of the USA Patriot Act, a centerpiece of his war on terrorism.

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A procedural move to cut off debate and call a vote on the issue fell eight votes short of the 60 votes needed, with a handful of Republicans joining most Democrats to oppose it. The vote was 52-47.

Proponents of the legislation warned that much of sweeping anti-terrorism law was to expire at the end of the month, and if it did, the nation could be placed at increased risk.

"We have a clear choice before us today: Do we advance against terrorism to make America safer or do we retreat?" Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, said shortly before the vote.

"God forbid that there be a terrorist attack that could have been prevented by the Patriot Act after it has expired," said Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record), an Arizona Republican.

Senate Democratic and Republican foes of the proposed renewal said the law could be swiftly renewed if lawmakers agreed to better balance national security with civil liberties.

"None of us wants it to expire, and those who threaten to let it expire rather than fix it are playing a dangerous game," said Sen. Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record), a Vermont Democrat.

Fifty Republicans and two Democrats voted to end debate on the renewal legislation; five Republicans, one independent and 41 Democrats blocked it with a procedural hurdle.

Approved earlier this week by the House of Representatives, the legislation would make permanent 14 anti-terrorism provisions set to expire on December 31, and extend for four years three others.

SECRET SEARCHES

The Patriot Act was first passed after the September 11, 2001, attacks to expand the authority of the federal government to share information, conduct secret searches, obtain private records and monitor telephone calls in its quest to track down suspected terrorists and prevent potential attacks.

But with complaints by some conservatives as well as liberals, House and Senate negotiators agreed in a recent conference report to increase the protection of the civil liberties of law-abiding Americans.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said, "In my view, and in the view of many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the conference report still does not contain enough checks on the expanded powers."

The Senate showdown over the Patriot Act occurred as the U.S. Congress sought to wrap up its work for the year and go home for the holidays.

Opponents have suggested that expiring provisions be temporarily extended as they are written now until congressional negotiators can resolve differences.

But Republicans leaders and the White House have vowed to reject any short-term extension and it was unclear if all sides would find a long-term solution any time soon.

At the White House, spokesman Scott McClellan said, "This law has helped prevent attacks from happening by breaking up terrorist cells in parts of the United States."

"And while the Senate didn't pass the vote that they were looking to do right now, the leadership is committed to moving forward on this," McClellan said. "They're still in for some more time this year. We urge them to get this done now and pass that legislation."

(Additional reporting by Tabassum Zakaria)