Modbert
Daydream Believer
- Sep 2, 2008
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GOP struggles for PATRIOT Act votes - John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman - POLITICO.com
Here's hoping it fails.
House Republican leaders are aggressively lobbying rank-and-file GOP lawmakers to pass a long-term extension of the Patriot Act, a Bush-era anti-terrorism law that has already provided Republicans with an embarrassing defeat early in their majority.
A high-profile test looms Thursday when the House Judiciary Committee takes up the legislation and the internal debate among Republicans reveals that the 90-day extension passed in February hasnt mollified all concerns among some conservatives about the domestic surveillance laws.
Republican leaders have had to play up the death of Osama bin Laden and fears of retaliation by Al Qaeda following the May 1 U.S. raid that killed him as reasons for extending the controversial legislation, arguing that American counterterrorism experts need the authority granted them under the Patriot Act in order to thwart any plots against the U.S.
The six-year extension was offered by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), a senior member of the Judiciary panel, with backing from Reps. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), the chairmen of the Judiciary and Intelligence committees, respectively.
Here's hoping it fails.