Senate Reach Deal on Patriot Act

[kpete]

House, Senate Reach Deal on Patriot Act By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer
10 minutes ago

"All factors considered it's reasonably good, not perfect, but it's acceptable," said Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, as he announced the deal.

The agreement would extend for four years two of the Patriot Act's most controversial provisions — authorizing roving wiretaps and permitting secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries. Those provisions would expire in four years unless Congress acts on them again.

The ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, has not yet decided whether to support the agreement, a spokesman said. But the GOP-majority negotiating committee has enough votes to send the House and Senate the compromise if all of the Republican negotiators agree to it.

The Senate is expected to vote on the compromise next week, Specter said. That would give them enough time to deal with any filibuster threats before the Patriot Act provisions expire on Dec. 31.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051208/ap_on_go_co/patriot_act