Lawmakers Debate Patriot Act Extensiion

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5157010,00.html

Lawmakers Debate Patriot Act Extensiion


WASHINGTON (AP) - Just hours after explosions created fresh terrorist concerns in London, the House began debate Thursday on an extension of the USA Patriot Act, the premier American anti-terrorism tool.

The bill called for making permanent 14 of 16 provisions of the original law, passed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and scheduled to expire at the end of this year. It also gave a 10-year extension to two provisions - one allowing roving wiretaps and another allowing searches of library and medical records - that triggered passionate arguments between Democrats and Republicans.

``This is the single most important vote that Congress will cast to keep America safe during 2005,'' Republican Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said during a news conference to preview the debate.

The Patriot Act moved forward in the Senate as well, as the Judiciary Committee unanimously approved changes Thursday and sent the measure to the floor for a vote. The changes, agreed to after all-night negotiations, include a provision that requires law enforcement to report within seven days of a search warrant being granted whether there is enough evidence to justify the search.

<</SNIP>>

[lala_rawraw]

1. They are voting on, full house vote....

I have been saying this for days:(