Republicans agree to limits on Patriot Act

[Democracy White]

I was scanning WitchVox when I ran across this, sorry if it's a dupe:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans beat a slight retreat on Wednesday on the USA Patriot Act, agreeing that some controversial provisions in the terrorism-fighting law should be authorized for a limited period rather than being made permanent.

The act allowed expanded surveillance of terror suspects and gave the government the ability to go to a secret court to seize the personal records of suspects from bookstores, libraries, businesses, hospitals and other organizations -- the so-called "library clause."

AMENDMENTS DEFEATED

Democrats had pushed for even shorter time limits on the key clauses. Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott offered an amendment calling for reauthorization in 2009. When that was defeated along party lines, New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler offered another for reauthorization in 2011. That too was defeated.

The House Intelligence Committee, which also has jurisdiction over the bill, approved it on Wednesday after agreeing to a five-year sunset provision on a clause that makes it easier for the government to monitor "lone wolf" suspects unaffiliated with a terrorist group or country.