ChannelOklahoma.com - Politics - Patriot Act Earns Senate Passage

ChannelOklahoma.com - Politics - Patriot Act Earns Senate Passage: "
The Senate on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to renew the USA Patriot Act, after months of pitched debate over legislation that supporters said struck a better balance between privacy rights and the government's power to hunt down terrorists.

The 89-10 vote marked a bright spot in President George W. Bush's troubled second term as his approval ratings dipped over the war in Iraq and his administration's response to Hurricane Katrina. Renewing the act, congressional Republicans said, was key to preventing more terror attacks in the United States.
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Unable to break the deadlock, Congress opted instead to extend the deadline twice while negotiations continued. In the end, the White House and the Republicans broke the stalemate by crafting a second measure that would curb some powers of law enforcement officials seeking information. Both will be sent as a package to Bush.

Here are some of the provisions the bill renews.

~ Clarifies that most libraries are not subject to demands in those letters for information about suspected terrorists.
~ Puts a four-year expiration on Sections 206 and 215, which authorize roving wiretaps and permit secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries."