House Almost Limits Scope of USA Patriot Act

On July 8, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives almost lost a key vote which would have -- for the first time -- limited the scope of the USA Patriot Act. Pundits suggested it would have been a key blow to the Bush Administration, which threatened to veto HR 4754 should the amendment succeed.

From CNN:

The effort to defy Bush and bridle the law's powers lost by 210-210, with a majority needed to prevail. The amendment appeared on its way to victory as the roll call's normal 15-minute time limit expired, but Republican leaders kept the vote open for about 20 more minutes as they persuaded about 10 Republicans who initially supported the provision to change their votes.

The amendment, which would have limited access to library records, was a coalition effort of civil libertarians, Republican and Democrat. See how your congressman voted.

The House has blocked portions of the law, which was passed almost immediately after the terrorist attacks of 9-11-2001, but neither the House nor the Senate has succeeded in rolling back any part of the law.

Illustrating the vagaries of the Congressional legislative process, the amendment would have affected not the USA Patriot Act itself, but budget monies used to implement it. HR4754 is a funding bill.