Bush wins close vote on anti-terror law
The USA Patriot Act was renewed in a cliffhanger vote last night, extending a centrepiece of the President George Bush’s campaign against terror after months of political combat.
The House of Representatives vote was 280-138, just two more votes in favour than were needed under special rules that require a two-thirds majority.
The close vote caught senior Republican aides by surprise in both chambers of Congress.
But it marked a political victory for President Bush. His approval ratings have suffered in recent months after revelations that he authorised secret, warrantless wiretapping of Americans.
That issue helped fuel a two-month Senate parliamentary delay forced by Democrats, which made the White House accept restrictions on information gathered in terror investigations.
Republicans declared the legislative war won yesterday, saying renewal of the act’s 16 provisions, along with new curbs on government investigatory power, will help law enforcers keep terrorists from striking.
House judiciary committee chairman James Sensenbrenner said: “Intense congressional and public scrutiny has not produced a single substantiated claim that the Patriot Act has been misused to violate Americans’ civil liberties.
“Opponents of the legislation have relied upon exaggeration and hyperbole to distort a demonstrated record of accomplishment and success.”
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said: “The president looks forward to signing the bill into law.”
The debate about the balance between a strong fight against terror and civil liberties protections is far from over.
The Senate judiciary committee is holding hearings on the domestic wiretapping programme.
Its chairman, Republican Arlen Specter, the chief author of the Patriot Act renewal, has introduced a new measure “to provide extra protections that better comport with my sensitivity of civil rights.”
Despite its passage, the Patriot Act still has staunch congressional opponents who protested against it by voting “no” even on parts of the bill that would add new civil rights protections.
One of the 16 expiring provisions of the original Patriot Act that is being renewed allows federal officials to obtain “tangible items” such as business records, including those from libraries and bookstores, for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations.
Other provisions would clarify that foreign intelligence or counterintelligence officers should share information obtained as part of a criminal investigation with counterparts in domestic law enforcement agencies.
The legislation also takes aim at the distribution and use of methamphetamine by limiting the supply of a key ingredient found in everyday cold and allergy medicines.
Another provision is designed to strengthen port security by imposing strict punishments on crew members who impede or mislead law enforcement officers trying to board their ships.
