Senate Rejects Extension of Patriot Act

he Senate on Friday rejected attempts to renew the USA Patriot Act because they said some provisions infringed on Americans' privacy rights, the Associated Press reported.

The bill's Senate supporters were not able to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a threatened filibuster by Sens. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), Larry Craig (R-Idaho, and their allies. The final vote was 52-47, AP reported.

President Bush, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Republican congressional leaders had lobbied to make most of the expiring law’s provisions permanent.

The proposed extension to the law — of which many provisions expire at the end of the year — would have added new safeguards and expiration dates to the two most controversial parts: roving wiretaps and secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries, AP reported.

Opponents said that wasn't enough and have called for the law to be extended in its present form so they could continue to try to add more civil-liberties safeguards.