House approves extension of Patriot Act provisions

WASHINGTON (AP)  The House of Representatives agreed Monday to a 10-month extension of three major law enforcement powers in the fight against terror that some privacy advocates from both the right and left regard as infringements on civil liberties.

The House measure, passed 275-144, would extend authority for the USA Patriot Act-related provisions until Dec. 8. Common ground must be found with the Senate before the provisions expire on Feb. 28.

At issue are two provisions of the post-Sept. 11, 2001, law that give counterterrorism offices roving wiretap authority to monitor multiple electronic devices and court-approved access to business records relating to a terrorist investigation.

The third "lone wolf" provision of a 2004 law permits secret intelligence surveillance of non-U.S. individuals not known to be linked to a specific terror organization.

Last week the House, in an embarrassment for the new Republican leaders, failed to pass the same bill under an expedited procedure that required a two-thirds majority. Twenty-six Republicans joined 122 Democrats in voting against it. Monday's vote drew 27 Republican "no" votes.

The main objections are to what critics see as unconstitutional search and seizure authority and big government intrusions into private lives.

"I believe the American people have a legitimate fear of out-of-control government," said conservative Republican Dana Rohrabacher, who cast one of his party's "no" votes. "And yes, they have a legitimate fear of out-of-control prosecutors and out-of-control spy networks."

But House Judiciary Committee's Republican chairman, Lamar Smith, argued that the courts had consistently upheld the constitutionality of the provisions, and if Congress should fail to extend them, "we will forfeit our ability to prevent terrorist attacks." He said a temporary extension "is the only way to provide House members the time to study the law" and consider possible changes.

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