House Puts Off Patriot Act Vote

   (Washington, DC)  --  House Republican leaders have put off another vote on extending certain provisions of the USA Patriot Act.
   The move was made to give new members more time to study the issue.
   Some provisions of the Patriot Act expire at the end of this month.
   The Obama administration supports an extension until December.
  
   In a vote earlier this week, Republicans fell seven votes short of a two-thirds majority needed to pass the extensions.
   It was a fast-track procedural maneuver usually reserved for non-controversial items.
   The next vote will be taken under normal procedural rules, requiring a simple majority.
   That could happen next week.
  
   The expiring provisions deal with wiretaps, including roving wiretaps, and the seizure of customer records from businesses.
   The Patriot Act was approved after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
   It gave law enforcement agencies new powers to deal with terrorist threats.
   Many Democrats and some conservative Republicans question whether the law goes too far.
  

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