Patriot Act extension fails in the House by seven votes

**Prince** · 02-08-2011, 07:44 PM

Patriot Act extension fails in the House by seven votes

More than two-dozen House Republicans bucked their party to oppose the measure that would extend three key provisions in the counterterrorism law.

By Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, February 8, 2011; 9:21 PM

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.).
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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.

**lnvanry** · 02-08-2011, 07:52 PM

Does anyone know the vote breakdown for this?

**vortrit** · 02-08-2011, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by lnvanry

Does anyone know the vote breakdown for this?

I'm curious why you even think that's important.

**LAM** · 02-08-2011, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by lnvanry

Does anyone know the vote breakdown for this?

Here you go...

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll026.xml

http://thomas.loc.gov/home/rollcallvotes.html

**lnvanry** · 02-08-2011, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by vortrit

I'm curious why you even think that's important.

I am curious why you would even ask a question like that

**vortrit** · 02-08-2011, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by lnvanry

I am curious why you would even ask a question like that

Because I see a win as a win and a loss as a loss. I guess it's just my perspective on things.

**Zaphod** · 02-08-2011, 08:52 PM

Interesting to note that is was primarily republicans that voted to extend it. Aren't they supposed to be all for smaller government?

**DOMS** · 02-08-2011, 09:09 PM

Fascinating that CNN and the NY Times don't seem to have it on their home pages.

Fox News (I use the term loosely) has it in small print as "House GOP Botches Vote on Extending Patriot Act Provisions."

**LAM** · 02-08-2011, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Zaphod

Interesting to note that is was primarily republicans that voted to extend it. Aren't they supposed to be all for smaller government?

that's the bullshit that they sell on TV where most people get 100% of there news and information on the government from...

**vortrit** · 02-08-2011, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by DOMS

Fascinating that CNN and the NY Times don't seem to have it on their home pages.

Fox News (I use the term loosely) has it in small print as "House GOP Botches Vote on Extending Patriot Act Provisions."

Try the Washington Post. Besides, there is more important news to report. Didn't you hear Obama quit smoking!?

**Prince** · 02-08-2011, 10:47 PM

I don't care, as far as I am concerned the Patriot act was sold on fear by the Bush administration and it took away our basic rights to freedom.

**Big Smoothy** · 02-08-2011, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by Prince

Patriot Act extension fails in the House by seven votes

More than two-dozen House Republicans bucked their party to oppose the measure that would extend three key provisions in the counterterrorism law.

.....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.

Funny how the GOP says it wants smaller government, but it's a setback to not renew the Patriot Acts, which further strengthen and expand federal power, and usurp on citizens' rights.

Sure, there needs to be security and surveillance to I.D. a potential attack, but the Patriot Acts I & II had a lot of latent things that are disturbing in them.

Most idiotic politicians in Washington DC that voted for it, later admitted they didn't even read the bill.

Why name a bill the "Patriot Act?" So, there would be pressure for a Congressman who runs for re-election every 2 years to vote for it, when you have a braindead Constituency.

**Prince** · 02-08-2011, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by Big Smoothy

Funny how the GOP says it wants smaller government, but it's a setback to not renew the Patriot Acts, which further strengthen and expand federal power, and usurp on citizens' rights.

yup, more hipocracy.

**Prince** · 02-09-2011, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by DOMS

Fascinating that CNN and the NY Times don't seem to have it on their home pages.

Fox News (I use the term loosely) has it in small print as "House GOP Botches Vote on Extending Patriot Act Provisions."

House defeats bill extending Patriot Act provisions until December - CNN.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/us...t%20Act&st=cse

**Dale Mabry** · 02-09-2011, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by DOMS

Fascinating that CNN and the NY Times don't seem to have it on their home pages.

Fox News (I use the term loosely) has it in small print as "House GOP Botches Vote on Extending Patriot Act Provisions."

One of the Kardashians must have been getting pregnant, molesting Justin Bieber, or star-fucking a mediocre black athete.

**Big Pimpin** · 02-09-2011, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

One of the Kardashians must have been getting pregnant, molesting Justin Bieber, or star-fucking a mediocre black athete.

**Phetamine** · 02-09-2011, 06:16 AM

Well there are 3 big things to reduce debt and government.

1. Defense spending
2. Medicare
3. Social Security

all of which are "off the table" for reducing government spending. The by line of the past elections of creating jobs, repealing the healthcare law, and reducing government are garbage. They can't get healthcare repealed, and haven't made any head way in creating jobs, they are taking just as much time off as working it seems. The main theme of there congress so far has been redefining rape and getting it not covered under extreme circumstances for government assistance (which is a small amount considering other programs that can be cut). Get serious on the cuts realize you can't cut taxes and reduce debt (which the tax rate is the lowest since the mid 80's). So get it done, and live what you preach. And get the jobs going

**DOMS** · 02-09-2011, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Prince

House defeats bill extending Patriot Act provisions until December - CNN.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/us...t%20Act&st=cse

I figured they had it buried somewhere. My point was that it wasn't on the front page.

**DOMS** · 02-09-2011, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

One of the Kardashians must have been getting pregnant, molesting Justin Bieber, or star-fucking a mediocre black athete.

**DOMS** · 02-09-2011, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by vortrit

Try the Washington Post. Besides, there is more important news to report. Didn't you hear Obama quit smoking!?

I detest all major news organizations.

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