Leaders of Congress reach deal to extend Patriot Act

AP / CBS

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner have reached an agreement to extend the Patriot Act for four years.

The bill will have to pass both the Senate and the House. It is unclear what kind of support the agreement will get from rank and file members.

Reid scheduled a procedural vote for 5:00 pm on Monday to begin debate on the Patriot Act extension. Sixty Senators would need to support moving to the legislation in order to open debate.

Parts of the current Patriot Act expire at the end of this month.

[Heathergreeneyes]

There must be some mistake here! Obama signed an extension of the Patriot Act?

Wasn't the Patriot Act the evil product of George Bush, a violation of our privacy rights, civil rights and freedoms? Wasn't this the evil Patriot Act the liberals protested and despised?

Obama signed that? Surely your joking!

[pat52012]

P.S...In case you have not figured it out...The Patriot Act is an act of treason!!

[pat52012]

I think it's all really simple concerning the Patriot Act; You either believe in the Constitution or you don't. Personally, I believe strongly in this great document because it enumerated our God-given rights on paper. Additionally, I served my country and I took the following oath;I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. For me to ignore that oath would be treasonous!!

[stn_sage]

It would have been nice if the detail of this Bill had been included in the article! But I'm not surprised it isn't!
Obviously, there are those who don't want the public to know! Likely,
most of Congress won't know what's in it when they vote!
To those of you working for the government who are posting on this site and trying to promote it...you barely qualify as human beings...if you do!
But, the USA and public needs the Patriot Act, like we need two or three
trillion more of national debt! In other words, WE DON'T!!!

[sjc_1]

A version of this act was waiting for an opportunity to pass. They got their opportunity when Bush ignored Al Qaeda and 9/11 happened.

[justme2012]

Yes and Obama is so glad of that which is why he keeps it going.

[DemandProgress]

This deal demonstrates one of the major problems with broad anti-terror laws like the Patriot Act: the lack of public Congressional conversation. There has been too little debate on the core flaws of the USA-PATRIOT Act, everyone needs to help make sure that this vote does not go through without the critical, reasoned discussion it deserves. Demand Progress can help you contact your Congressman and make your voice heard: act.demandprogress.org/sign/obl_patriot

[VietVet70]

Excellent point. Hiding these important issues from public debate is undermines the electorate's ability to vote intelligently which hurts democracy in general. The executive branch always wants to expand its power regardless of which party controls it; that's why we have a balance of powers in our government and why the electorate needs to be informed.

[tsigili]

Not a big deal. The act is a two-edged sword, that helps on the one side, and infringes on freedom, on the other.

[babooph]

The act is a great advantage for an incompetent police force protecting a corrupt govt...

[user000049586849302948603]

"Leaders of Congress reach deal to extend Patriot Act"

Total repeal of the Bill or Rights and more tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

[Buffalobob1]

The Cowards Act by the cowards for the cowards who are willing to give up their freedoms for an illusion of safety. People would prefer to be groped at the airport and have their luggage stolen than to take a very small risk. I saw worthless coward Pistole Christmas shopping in a small store on Wisconsin Avenue and he had four security guards with him. I mean exactly how afraid of the American public is the guy.

[VietVet70]

It's interesting how those who cry for smaller government are so quick to turn over their most fundamental Constitutional protections to the government out of slightest fear. Nazi Hermann Goering understood this idea well, "...the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."