"The Senate on Friday refused to reauthorize major portions of the USA Patriot Act after critics complained they infringed too much on Americans' privacy and liberty, dealing a huge defeat to the Bush administration and Republican leaders.
In a crucial vote early Friday, the bill's Senate supporters were not able to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster by Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and their allies. The final vote was 52-47.
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'I don't want to hear again from the attorney general or anyone on this floor that this government has shown it can be trusted to use the power we give it with restraint and care,' said Feingold, the only senator to vote against the Patriot Act in 2001.
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'Those that would give up essential liberties in pursuit in a little temporary security deserve neither liberty nor security,' said Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H. They suggested a short extension so negotiations could continue, but the Senate scrapped a Democratic-led effort to renew the USA Patriot Act for just three months before the vote began.
'Today, fair-minded senators stood firm in their commitment to the Constitution and rejected the White House's call to pass a faulty law,' said Caroline Fredrickson, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington legislative office. 'This was a victory for the privacy and liberty of all Americans.'" Read more.
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