WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has signed a one-year extension of several provisions in the nation's main counterterrorism law, the Patriot Act.
Provisions in the measure would have expired on Sunday without Obama's signature Saturday.
The act, which was adopted in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, expands the government's ability to monitor Americans in the name of national security.
Three sections of the Patriot Act that stay in force will:
_Authorize court-approved roving wiretaps that permit surveillance on multiple phones.
_Allow court-approved seizure of records and property in anti-terrorism operations.
_Permit surveillance against a so-called lone wolf, a non-U.S. citizen engaged in terrorism who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group.
Obama's signature comes after the House voted 315 to 97 Thursday to extend the measure.
The Senate also approved the measure, with privacy protections cast aside when Senate Democrats lacked the necessary 60-vote supermajority to pass them. Thrown away were restrictions and greater scrutiny on the government's authority to spy on Americans and seize their records.



OK...weren't people complaining about this when Bush was in office? So why extend any of it?

If he didn't sign it, Republicans would attack him.

If he did sign it, Republicans will attack him.

No win situation.

Yeah. And everyone KNOWS that Obama is afraid of those mean ole Republicans.



What a lame excuse.

wow....I was asking a serious question because it didn't make sense.

but nooooooooooooooooo it goes to the nanny nanny boo boo and they did it and not our fault

The nanny what?????????

I no understand....what you mean?

When it comes down to the nitty gritty most likely there is a bill that Obama wants passed and in order to do so he will sign a bill others want through. It is kinda like you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours type thing....

Oh, come on.

Have you not noticed that EVERYTHING someone questions about Saint Obama's actions, those actions are ALWAYS the Republicans fault???

Who said anything about it being the Republicans fault?

without pointing fingers

why would we still need the Patriot Act?

Because we are still at war?

so why was it not ok before?

That's an easy one.

It's necessary NOW because Obama signed it.

It wasn't necessary THEN because it was Bush that signed it.

This is not the exact same thing that Bush was doing that is why.

Bush was doing non court approved wire taping, warrantless surveillance

Three sections of the Patriot Act that stay in force will:
_Authorize court-approved roving wiretaps that permit surveillance on multiple phones.
_Allow court-approved seizure of records and property in anti-terrorism operations.
_Permit surveillance against a so-called lone wolf, a non-U.S. citizen engaged in terrorism who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group.

wouldn't it have to be in effect for it to STAY in effect? This would imply that it isn't new.

The Patriot Act has been modified quite a bit from it's original version.

But it is different.

Under Bush...correct??? But it wasn't good under him, so why is it good now?

Not under Bush.

How is it different is what I am asking. The things you mentioned were already in place. They voted to extend them

then under who????? how many times has it been changed since Obama?