Would hate to have this IMPORTANT piece of info lost amidst the cluster [View All]

[Dover]

of less significant news. Everyone should be asking their Democratic saviors how this happened.

Senate opponents concede renewal of the Patriot Act


March 1, 2006, 11:56PM
Senate opponents concede renewal of the Patriot Act
Revised version adds protections for suspects in terror probes


By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press


WASHINGTON - The Senate on Wednesday cleared the path for renewing the USA Patriot Act, swatting aside objections while adding new protections for people targeted by government investigations.

The overwhelming votes virtually ensured that Congress will renew President Bush's anti-terror law before it expires March 10. The Senate is expected to pass the two-bill package, renewing the law with the added protections, today. The House was expected to pass the legislation next Tuesday.

Opponents, who insisted the new protections were cosmetic, conceded defeat.

"The die has now been cast," Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., acknowledged after the Senate voted 84-15 to end his filibuster. "Obviously at this point, final passage of the reauthorization bill is now assured."...>

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3695018.html

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RESOURCES
KEY CHANGES

The Senate voted to add new protections to the 2001 anti-terror law in three areas:
• Secret subpoenas: Recipients of subpoenas for information in terror investigations will have the right to challenge a requirement that they refrain from telling anyone.

• No names : Suspects no longer will have to provide the FBI with the name of a lawyer consulted about a National Security Letter — a demand for records issued by investigators.

• Libraries : ClarifIes that most libraries are not subject to demands in letters for information about suspected terrorists.