Senate passes extension of Patriot Act provisions
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Reporting from Washington — The Senate late Tuesday passed a three-month extension of provisions of the USA Patriot Act as Congress works to avoid a lapse of elements of the terrorist surveillance program that expire at the end of the month.
Senate Democrats are hoping to avoid interjecting the national security issue into the 2012 presidential campaign by sending their bill to the Republican-led House, which earlier this week overcame opposition from conservative lawmakers to pass an extension through Dec. 8.
The Senate voted 86-12 to extend three expiring provisions of the act that became law after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Two Republicans, “tea-party”-backed Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), joined Democrats in voting against the bill.
Extending the expiring provisions encountered a political setback last week in the House as conservative and tea-party-inspired lawmakers joined Democrats in the House to oppose the measure they see as an overreach of government authority.
Republican leaders have sought a permanent extension, which now appears politically difficult.
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