http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100225/ap_on_go_co/us_patriot_act

Senate votes to extend USA Patriot Act for 1 year


WASHINGTON – The Senate voted Wednesday to extend for a year key provisions of the nation's counterterrorism surveillance law that are scheduled to expire at the end of the month. In agreeing to pass the bill, Senate Democrats retreated from adding new privacy protections to the USA Patriot Act.

The Senate approved the bill on a voice vote with no debate. It now goes to the House.

Three important sections of the Patriot Act are to expire at the end of this month.

One authorizes court-approved roving wiretaps that permit surveillance on multiple phones. A second allows court-approved seizure of records and property in anti-terrorism operations. A third permits surveillance against a so-called lone wolf, a non-U.S. citizen suspected of engaging in terrorism who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group.

Supporters say extending the law enables authorities to keep important tools in the fight against terrorism. It would also give Democrats some cover from Republican criticism that the Obama administration is soft on terrorism. Republicans have criticized the administration for trying terrorist suspects in civilians courts, rather than military ones, and for trying to close the military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Some Democrats, however, had to forfeit new privacy protections they had sought for the law.

The Judiciary Committee bill would have restricted FBI information demands known as national security letters and made it easier to challenge gag orders imposed on Americans whose records are seized. Library records would have received extra protections. Congress would have closely scrutinized FBI use of the law to prevent abuses. Dissemination of surveillance results would have been restricted and after a time, unneeded records would have been destroyed.

"I would have preferred to add oversight and judicial review improvements to any extension of expiring provisions in the USA Patriot Act," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "But I understand some Republican senators objected."

Was it the ears that tipped you off too?

Seriously this is starting to get comical.Obama might as well just say that he was going to keep on doing all of George bush's previous policies because I don't think he has changed or stopped any of them since he took office.After reading this story I felt like George bush never left office.Same ol same ol!

differences and similarities between the two across numreous issues, but OBama is definitely more hard working, more intelligent, more of a family man, more diplomatic,and more handsome,,,:)

Well....George was smart enough to go to Congress and tell them that there would be a BIG problem in the banking system if they didn't do something. THREE times.

Of course, had they actually listened to him, there wouldn't be anything for Obama and the Dems to blame Bush for. Without anything to blame Bush for, it's entirely possible that the " Hope and Change " platform wouldn't have been worth a spit in the ocean.

Good thing that Democrat controlled Congress didn't listen to Bush, eh?

Everything Bush did wasnt stupid, I just dont think he is nearly as intelligent as OBama. There is a difference. I think Bush had far too much arrogance without enough substance to back it up,,which is a dangerous combination. but that is just one voters opinion...

We'll continue to disagree on this one because, even though I totally admit that ole George was arrogant with little substance, I see just as little substance from Obama. All I really see from him is a whole lot of pretty words and vague ideas.

there hasn't been a difference in the two parties for the last 40 years..you're just now noticing?????
i also think the finger pointing on who caused the banking meltdown is comical on the repubs part. It was that "less govt" that gives you GOP'ers chills up your legs that allowed the banks and wallstreet to do what they did. Congress tried to set regulations but the GOP blocked it every single time..then there's the two silly wars that we shouldn't even be in...you can't blame the dems on that.

Are you a reincarnation? You're 29 and claiming to have seen no difference in 40 years ago.

Hussein is at least as arrogant as Bush and a media ho.

I agree he's hard working. It's a tough job, all that partying and trying to BS and threaten folks to have that Obummercare shoved down their throats.

I swear, I gotta' find my Obummer is a jackass pic.

OBama is hard working because he doesnt just say do it my way and then go off to the ranch,,,,he takes time to try and work with people INSTEAD of just pushing them around.

If my daughter was going to bring home a Bush or an OBama,,,,Id hope for an OBama every time. His life, not just his presidential career, shows a man who is a friend to knowledge(intelligent), committed to family, and cares about community. There was no other choice for me, but to each their own (of course).

I guess, if my daughter were to have to choose between a drunk(Bush) and a drug addict(Hussein), I'd hope she'd choose to be alone.

You do know that most politicians are just paper cut-outs of the guy next to them, right? Regardless of who is president, we would still be royally ****ed.

The Patriot Act is a cruel joke, and should be allowed to sunset. It should have never been written and passed in the first place. It harms American citizens more than its original intent of flushing out the terrorists. You start altering Constitutional ammendments like the government has, it's not a democracy anymore. We're not really a true democracy anyway, but on paper, at least citizens had some protections under the Constitution.

There's no point in keeping Gitmo open anymore. I don't see how the Cuban government tolerates the U.S. having a base there anyway, it's just wrong. If you think it isn't, imagine if China wanted to detain prisoners in Seattle, WA. Would you be okay with that? Why aren't these suspected terrorists being tried in the courts? Military or civilian? Any court? They are just languishing away, with no trial, and often no charges. DOMJ needs to get their act together and start trying some cases.

wow, if he could accomplish what he has as a drug addict,,,Im impressed. Things people do in college are not necessarily indicative of the person they LATER become, especially if they have the intelligence to learn from mistakes. I wasnt even thinking about their leisure life though, I meant their intelligence and demeanor overall. I would be PROUD to be Obamas mama (in law)...lol

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I agree with this . There was a man who said this is what he blew up the trade centers for . ANY ONE REMEMBER BIN LADIN . with the cooperation of our government and the rich folk were broke .He brought down our economy which he said he was going to do ..

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
I don't see where those jokes can do any thing .

Genius..there are things called Books...remember those????????

Thanks for the compliment but, I'm no genius, just a regular guy who has lived the 40 years of history.

I have lived the slow progression of us losing more and more rights. I can predict right now, we will think we are given choices of honorable people to vote for. We are being played like a fiddle.

Jokes on you!

Written history is not always accurate. As we all know. It's like MSNBC, biased and slanted.

When you get some age about you, you just might realize that.

their lives have been quite different, policy differences wont become evident until OBamas term(s) is/are up.

OBAMA vs BUSH
26 vacation days vs 69 during first year
graduated mcl from harvard vs C student at yale
first worked at 24 as community organizer vs first worked at 33 heading his own oil company
went to college on grants and scholarships vs on AA(child of alumnus)
spent college years doing community service, vs spent college years drinking