PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Fails House Vote

Reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act failed in the House tonight. Only 8 House Teapublicans voted against the reauthorization.

A measure to extend key provisions of the Patriot Act counterterrorism surveillance law through December failed the House Tuesday night, with more than two-dozen Republicans bucking their party to oppose the measure.

The House measure, which was sponsored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and required a two-thirds majority for passage, failed on a 277-to-148 vote. Twenty-six Republicans voted with 122 Democrats to oppose the measure, while 67 Democrats voted with 210 Republicans to back it. Ten members did not vote.

The measure would have extended three key provisions of the Patriot Act that are set to expire on Monday, Feb. 28, unless Congress moves to reauthorize them. One of the provisions authorizes the FBI to continue using roving wiretaps on surveillance targets; the second allows the government to access “any tangible items,” such as library records, in the course of surveillance; and the third is a “lone wolf” provision of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act that allows for the surveillance of targets who are not connected to an identified terrorist group.

I dont think this means the reauthorization is dead. The Senate will vote separatelymand the House has enough votes to pass the bill. It is interesting though, to see if a Left-Right alliance develops with regards to civil liberties. If this 26 Republicans stay together and the Democrats stick together (I know, tough sell) then perhaps this can cause Boehner some headaches.