House Approves Extension of Patriot Act

The House voted to renew a modified USA Patriot Act to combat terrorism on Wednesday and sent the bill to the Senate, where opponents pledged a last-ditch fight against provisions they said would curtail individual liberties.

The vote in the House was 251-174, with 44 Democrats joining 207 Republicans. "Renewing the Patriot Act before it expires in December is literally a matter of life and death," said Rep. Ric Keller (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla.

Across the Capitol, though, a possible Democratic-led filibuster awaited. GOP aides expressed uncertainty that supporters could muster the 60 votes needed to prevail, and one senior Republican aide said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist had held discussions with the White House on a fallback plan that would extend the law for one year unchanged.

Frist issued a statement saying, "I am opposed to a short-term extension."

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