From an AP wire story:
The Senate voted 69-30 Tuesday _ 60 votes were needed _ to limit debate and bring the legislation to a final vote. The Senate is expected to pass the measure as early as Wednesday, barring Democratic procedural maneuvers. The House then is expected to approve it and send the bill to Bush’s desk next week.
“The issue is not concluded,” said Specter, R-Pa. He said he plans more legislation and hearings on restoring House-rejected curbs on government power.
His bill would make the government satisfy a higher threshold for warrantless wiretaps and would set a four-year expiration date for the use of National Security Letters in terrorism investigations.
However appetizing to Specter’s colleagues in the Senate, the new bill contains items House Republicans flatly rejected during talks last year.
Sensenbrenner has insisted that once the House approves the renewal and sends it to Bush, his chamber is done with the issue for the year.
Although there are reports that the renewed Patriot Act will contain additional privacy protections…I still feel like an essential liberty is being flushed down the toilet because of the terrorist boogeyman.