Senate OKs changes in Patriot Act

WASHINGTON — The Senate added civil liberties protections to the USA Patriot Act on Wednesday, clearing the way for renewal of the anti-terrorism law passed shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The 95-4 vote ended months of bipartisan debate centering on privacy rights. Subsequent procedural votes Wednesday showed enough Senate support to move the bill this week to the House for final passage and then to President Bush.

The bill makes most of the law's temporary provisions permanent. However, two Patriot Act sections and a third that's part of the intelligence reform law of 2004 will again expire in 2009.

They cover "roving" wiretaps that allow the FBI to intercept a target's communications regardless of what phone or computer is used; court orders to give investigators secret access to business records in terrorism and counterespionage cases; and a "lone wolf" measure that expands law enforcement powers to cover terrorism suspects operating as individuals.

Overall, the measure expands the FBI's powers to conduct secret searches, intercept phone calls and obtain information on terrorism suspects from businesses and libraries while concealing the existence of an investigation.

The bill also makes it easier for U.S. intelligence agencies to share information with law enforcement.

The bill's main House sponsor, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., welcomed the Senate vote, saying the bill "permanently tears down 'the wall' that had hindered our ability to 'connect the dots' prior to the 9/11 attacks.

"The FBI and the CIA will continue to be able to share information and work together in detecting, disrupting and dismantling terrorist cells," Sensenbrenner said.

The House is expected to pass the renewal next week. The law is set to expire March 10.

A bipartisan group of senators had delayed passage of the renewal for two months as they demanded changes. While not a majority, they had enough votes to keep debate from ending. Their demands kept Congress from renewing the bill by the end of last year, when it was initially set to expire.

After two temporary extensions, the White House and most of the Senate holdouts reached a deal that led to Wednesday's vote.

However, Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat and one of the law's opponents, called the new version "deeply flawed."