Patriot Act vote fails in the House

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Wow wee, I didn’t see this coming. Not all the Teabaggers  stood with their brethren, the Party of No, on a vote to renew three provisions of the civil rights busting law, the Patriot Act. From Jurist:

The US House of Representatives [official website] on Tuesday defeated a bill[HR 514 text] to renew three provisions of the USA Patriot Act [text; JURIST news archive]. The vote was 277 to 148 [roll call], falling short of the two-thirds majority required for the “suspension of the rules” procedure. The provisions in question, set to expire on February 28, create the authority for roving surveillance, including wire-taps and cell phone monitoring; compel production of business records and “other tangible things” under section 215 of the Act; and allow the US to target non-US persons “who engage in international terrorism or activities in preparation therefor, but are not necessarily associated with an identified terrorist group,” under the “lone wolf” amendment, section 6001. Earlier this month, the Obama administration released a Statement of Administration Policy [text, PDF] vying for a three-year renewal of the features, but expressed support for the now-failed House bill. A major opponent of the bill, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [advocacy website], was pleased with the vote [press release], with Laura Murphy, director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office stating:

The House should be commended for refusing to rubberstamp the continuation of these provisions. For the nearly 10 years it has been law, the over-reaching Patriot Act has been abused by law enforcement to violate innocent Americans’ privacy. We urge both the House and the Senate to keep up this momentum and continue to fight the extension of these provisions that put Americans’ privacy at risk.Republican lawmakers are expected to bring the bill up again for a vote by simple majority before the provisions expire.

Michael Steele was on Rachel Maddow’s show last night and they engaged in a discussion of this heinous law. Steele admitted that supporting  the Patriot Act means Americans support giving up some of their civil rights. Twenty-six Republicans voted against the bill. But fear not! The Party of No will bring this up again today. From WaPo:

The House on Thursday will again take up a bill that would extend until December key provisions of the Patriot Act counterterrorism surveillance law, two days after the measure fell seven votes short of the super-majority required for passage under fast-track rules.

The bill will be brought up again under a “closed rule,” meaning that no amendments can be offered. It will need only a simple majority to pass instead of the two-thirds that was required on Tuesday.

That means that the bill will likely be approved. On Tuesday, 277 lawmakers supported the measure, well more than half of the chamber’s members.

Lawmakers will vote on Thursday on the rules governing debate on the measure. That will be followed by debate and a vote on the measure itself, which has yet to be scheduled. A House Republican leadership aide said that GOP leaders are working with members to address any concerns they might have and that they expect the bill to move forward “in the coming days.”

The timeline facing lawmakers could be tricky. The three provisions that would be extended by the bill are set to expire on Feb. 28 unless Congress acts.

Even if the House passes its version of the legislation well before then, the Senate – which is in recess until next week – still has to sign off. And the Senate is debating three different timelines, any of which would extend the Patriot Act provisions beyond the December date called for in the House bill.

FYI…Obama wants this bill passed.

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Carol Bell

Carol is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Her passion is journalism and it shows. Carol is our unpaid, but very efficient, administrative secretary.
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Jess
13 years ago

Ah the YAT’s*** are not helping the republican cause and Boehner is an asshole that wouldn’t know how to pour piss out of a boot without instructions. Nice to see them all in disarray and not following lockstep. This is going to be a very entertaining two years indeed it is. Maybe Nancy can help him and make it benefit us. Hey it could happen, don’t laugh at me, that’s not nice 🙂

***Yelling Angry Teabaggers, saw the name on Kos and liked it, so I shall use it and spread it like manure all over the internets machine thingy.

13 years ago

Well, since the Party of No has regrouped and is going to use another tactic to pass this damn thing..I figured you wouldn’t mind.

Obama is on my last nerve lately.

Michael John Scott
Reply to  Dusty Taylor
13 years ago

I don’t mind at all. On the contrary. You expanded on the original.

Michael John Scott
13 years ago

While we already did a story on this when it broke this is far more comprehensive. Thanks.

House Rejects Extension of Patriot Act

Obama 2012 🙂

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