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Bush decries Democrats for stalling Patriot Act

Posted on: Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 10:50 CST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush called on Senate Democrats on Wednesday to reauthorize key anti-terrorism legislation, saying it was "inexcusable" to block renewal of the law in the face of terrorist threats.

"In order to protect America, the United States Senate must reauthorize the Patriot Act," Bush said on the White House South Lawn before departing to meet with injured troops at a Naval hospital in suburban Bethesda, Maryland.

"This obstruction is inexcusable," he said of Senate Democrats who are using a procedural maneuver known as a filibuster to block renewal of provisions of the law.

Bush's Republican allies in the Senate appeared ready to let key provisions of the law expire and blamed Democrats who have blocked a renewal in a bid for more civil-liberties safeguards.

If these provisions of the USA Patriot Act expire on December 31, as scheduled, the Republican-led Senate could take another crack at renewing them as soon as Congress begins a new year in January, congressional aides said.

"The terrorist threat is not going to expire at the end of this year," Bush said.

"The senators obstructing the Patriot Act need to understand that the expiration of this vital law will endanger America and will leave us in a weaker position in the fight against brutal killers," he added.

Democrats have proposed a three-month extension to provide time to resolve differences. But the White House and Republican congressional leaders have rejected such a move, saying the proposed renewal would make improvements in civil liberties. Critics have countered that the improvements are insufficient.

The act is a centerpiece of Bush's response to the September 11 attacks. Debate over renewing the provisions has escalated with revelations last week that Bush authorized spying without warrants on Americans suspected of having ties to terrorists.

Provisions up for renewal include ones involving wiretaps, access to library and business records and information-sharing by law enforcement and intelligence authorities.

The House of Representatives last week voted to renew the provisions, but that bill has been blocked in the Republican-led Senate.

A bid to end the procedural roadblock and move to passage of the measure fell eight votes short of the needed 60 in the 100-member Senate last week, with a few Republicans joining most Democrats in opposing it.

Source: REUTERS

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