Patriot Act Probably Going to be Reinstated

[Kelemvor]

Looks like the ol' Constitution is going to keep being a doormat for a bit longer, thanks to our lovely representatives in the House. We'll see if the Senate has a grain of sense.

Patriot Act extension fails in the House by seven votes

House Republicans suffered an embarrassing setback Tuesday when they fell seven votes short of extending provisions of the Patriot Act, a vote that served as the first small uprising of the party's tea-party bloc.

The bill to reauthorize key parts of the counter-terrorism surveillance law, which expire at the end of the month, required a super-majority to pass under special rules reserved for non-controversial measures.

But it fell short of the required two-thirds after 26 Republicans bucked their leadership, eight of them freshman lawmakers elected in November's midterm elections. With most Democrats opposing the extension, the final tally was 277 members in favor of extension, and 148 opposed.

The Republicans who control the House made plans to bring the measure back for a quick vote later this month under normal rules, requiring only a simple majority for passage. They blamed House Democrats for the bill's downfall, noting that they provided the lion's share of votes against a bill that President Obama supports.

The vote was the latest signal, though, that on certain matters House leaders could face a sizable resistance to compromise from within their own ranks, both from the 87 GOP freshmen and from conservative veterans who have been emboldened by the newcomers.

Earlier Tuesday, House Republicans pulled a bill to extend assistance to workers who lose jobs due to competition from imports. Conservatives had complained that the bill would put the federal government too squarely into the private economy.

And leaders of the Appropriations Committee heard complaints Tuesday from fellow Republicans on the panel that their bill to slash at least $32 billion in fiscal year 2011 spending was insufficient.

The Patriot Act measure would have extended through the end of the year three provisions that are set to expire Feb. 28. One authorizes the FBI to use roving wiretaps on surveillance targets; the second allows the government to access "any tangible items," such as library records, in the course of surveillance; and the third allows for the surveillance of targets who are not connected to an identified terrorist group.

Democrats hailed the day's events under a press release from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's office asking a simple question: "Disarray?"

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has presented an occasionally lonely opposition to the Patriot Act, said that Tuesday's vote demonstrated that he now had company from more than two dozen Republicans who support the Bill of Rights. "The Patriot Act represents the undermining of civil liberties," Kucinich said after the vote. Republicans "brought [the bill] forward not knowing the votes."

House leaders rejected that analysis. "Democrats in Congress voted to deny their own administration's request for key weapons in the war on terror," said Erica Elliott, spokeswoman for Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

A large majority of the freshman Republicans did support the extension of the law, which the last GOP president, George W. Bush, staunchly supported. Even some who wavered eventually decided to support the bill.

Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.), a freshman who voted yes, said the measure is "going to need some examination going forward, so all I did today is just, hey, instead of making a wrong decision, we're just going to do a little more due diligence to make the very right decision to both protect our security as well as protect the civil liberties of the American people."

"This is just a temporary extension, so the Judiciary Committee can dive a little deeper into the details," said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), a second-term lawmaker closely aligned with tea party activists. "That seemed fair. I don't want to let it expire without giving it full contemplation."

Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), who sponsored the extension, told reporters after the vote that opposition had little to do with the particular provisions being considered Tuesday and more to do with other counter-terrorism tools that have received scrutiny. "People didn't understand it," he said. "A lot of the complaints that we heard were about sections [of the law] not in this bill."

The White House said in a statement Tuesday that it "does not object" to extending the three Patriot Act provisions until December. However, it added, the administration "would strongly prefer" an extension until December 2013, noting that the longer timeline "provides the necessary certainty and predictability" that law enforcement agencies require while at the same time ensuring that Congress can continue to review the law's effectiveness.

The Senate is considering three competing timelines, in addition to the House legislation. Among them are proposals that would permanently extend the three provisions or extend them through 2013.

[Oh Shoot]

I'm confused, thought the GOP had changed its POV re Police State 101. But it's a "failure" they didn't extend it on first vote?

Looks like only 26 Republican House members actually walk the freedom walk, 8 of them newbies. Hell, I'm proud of the damn Dems in this particular case.

Of course, they'll be absorbed. I still maintain that to think the Tea Party can change the GOP is to laugh. Resistance is futile.

- OS

Edited February 16, 2011 by OhShoot

[Guest mosinon]

the apathy is the saddest thing. On both (supposed) sides. Call Obama a sekrit Mooslim all you want but he's a secret authoritarian just like everyone else.

I understand it is difficult to give up authority but we elect leaders t do the right damn thing not to do the easy damn thing.

[Kelemvor]

I was pretty neutral on Obama until this crap and the jacked up budget he released. He's trying to get the moderates with this stuff, but all he's really done is sign his name to my sh*t list.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I'm confused, thought the GOP had changed its POV re Police State 101. But it's a "failure" they didn't extend it on first vote?

Looks like only 26 Republican House members actually walk the freedom walk, 8 of them newbies. Hell, I'm proud of the damn Dems in this particular case.

Of course, they'll be absorbed. I still maintain that to think the Tea Party can change the GOP is to laugh. Resistance is futile.

- OS

I think some of the newbies still realize how they got there and who they represent. I'd just as soon the Patriot Act be gone.

[JayC]

I think some of the newbies still realize how they got there and who they represent. I'd just as soon the Patriot Act be gone.

I personally think you're wrong, I think we're stuck with this unconstitutional monster indefinitely.

[shortround]

On the plus side, looks like Phil Roe and John Duncan voted against it. When the revolution starts, I'm moving back to East Tn.