The U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday night blocked a proposed short-term renewal of the Patriot Act, a legislative arsenal to combat terrorism set up by the administration of George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, which expires in late February.
Elected officials voted on the text by 277 votes against 148. But to be adopted to the extent needed a two thirds majority.He missed less than fifteen votes.
This extension until December 8 do not correspond exactly to the wishes of the White House that called for an extension until 2013, but the Chair had said in a statement it does "not oppose" the bill of House.
Bill conceived after Sept. 11 to try to remedy the shortcomings of U.S. authorities in the fight against terrorism is highly controversial because of the exceptional powers given to security forces.
The Republican chairman of the Committee of Intelligence Mike Rogers, argued that extension of short-term in a statement Wednesday saying: "it is our duty to examine the measures in a comprehensive, energetic and sensible, rather than rushing into extended long term. " Mr.Rogers wanted to use the nine months to negotiate "ideally a permanent extension.
In the Senate, debate on how the extension will be even more complicated because several competing bills were filed.
The chairman of the Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy proposes an extension until December 2013 these measures.
Senate Republicans, themselves, want a permanent extension of these measures, but unlike their colleagues in the House, they are a minority.
Three major steps are involved: "mobile monitor" communications of suspects using multiple phone lines, the principle of "lone wolf" who can investigate a person purporting to conduct terrorist activities on its own account, the possibility for authorities to access "any tangible data" on a suspect, such as emails.
The Minister of Justice Eric Holder and the Director of American Intelligence (DNI) Eric Clapper called elected officials in a letter Jan. 28 to renew the three measures. They cautioned against renewal of the Patriot Act "short term".
