Patriot Act Still on Hold After Senate Stall

-- Library Journal, 12/19/2005

While the House of Representatives voted December 15 to reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act, the Senate on December 16 was unable to reject a threatened filibuster, thus putting the issue on hold. With 60 votes needed to stymie a threatened filibuster by a bipartisan coalition of Senators, the Senate split 52-47. Those critical of the House view want changes to the standards for conducting certain searches and obtaining National Security Letters (NSLs), as well as a sunset provision for the section that authorizes such NSLs.

However, the call by the American Library Association and other supporters of the critical Senators to extend the current law for three months for further debate was unheeded. President George Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and House Speaker Dennis Hastert have all rejected such an extension. Meanwhile, 16 Patriot Act provisions expire at the end of the year, so another vote will be needed, and if 60 Senators agree to cut off the debate, then the reauthorization as passed by the House can be signed into law.