Burnt Orange Report

House Slashes Patriot Act Extention **Update**

By Damon McCullar

As I'm sure that you are aware of, the Patriot Act renewal passed the Senate yesterday. The renewal was for six months so that lawmakers could sort out differences on violations of civil liberties. Well, when the measure when to the House of Representatives, they only approved a month extension. Now I'm fuzzy on the rules, but I think that the bill has to either go back to the Senate for approval or to conference committee to work out the differences.

Also in Congressional news, the ANWR amendment (drilling in ANWR) that was attached to the Defense Appropriations Bill was removed after the Republican leadership couldn't drum up enough votes to end debate (i.e. filibuster). Once the ANWR amendment was removed, the Defense Appropriations Bill was approved unanimously on voice vote. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens has been trying to get this measure passed for twenty-five years! In his latest attempt, he did everything but get down on his knees an beg senators to vote for it. And of all the underhanded tricks the Republican leadership has played, labeling a vote against the Defense Appropriations Bill with the ANWR Amendment as a vote against the troops is about as low as I have seen them stoop.

And finally, yesterday the Senate passed a budget deficit reducing bill that reduced the amount of money set aside for college loans and slashed funding for programs for the poor. The Vice-president had to come forth from his undisclosed location to cast the tie-breaking vote.

**Update** 10:30pm

The Senate met for a few hours today and approved the one month extention that the House had preiously approved.