Senate Advances Patriot Act Renewal

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060301/ap_on_go_co/patriot_act_12

Senate Advances Patriot Act Renewal
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 34 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The Senate on Wednesday swatted aside a prolonged filibuster against the renewal of USA Patriot Act and agreed to add new curbs on the government's power to pry into private records under President Bush's antiterror law.

But even as the new limits progressed on a 95-4 vote, some Democrats complained that restrictions would be virtually meaningless in practice and sought to add even stronger privacy protections.

Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., refused to allow more tinkering, pointing out that renewal of the 2001 law is already months overdue.

Later Wednesday, the Senate voted 84-15 to end a filibuster launched last year by Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., against the second part of the renewal package. That measure is a House-Senate compromise that would renew 16 major provisions of the Patriot Act that are set to expire March 10.