House approves Patriot Act extension, waiting for Obama's sig

[Sheldon]

44 - House approves Patriot Act extension, sending it to Obama

The measure passed on a vote of 279 to 143. It extends three provisions of the law until May 27, a compromise reached by congressional leaders to give lawmakers more time to consider re-authorizing them for a longer period of time.

Thursday's House vote came two days after the Senate passed the short-term extension on a bipartisan vote; it also came a week after an initial House effort to fast-track the extension fell seven votes short of passage in an unanticipated embarrassment for House Republican leaders. Thursday's vote was nearly identical to the initial vote in the House last week, when 277 lawmakers backed the measure and 148 opposed it.

We're safe now. I feel better already.