US votes to limit Patriot Act rules

ADVOCATES of rewriting the US Patriot Act are claiming momentum after the House of Representatives, despite a White House veto threat, voted to restrict investigators from using the anti-terrorism law to peek at library records and book shop sales slips.

Wednesday’s 238-187 vote came as lawmakers ramped up efforts to extend the Patriot Act, which was passed quickly in the emotional aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. When Congress passed the law, it included a sunset provision under which 15 of its provisions are to expire at the end of this year.

Since the Patriot Act passed, liberals and libertarian-oriented conservatives have pressed for changes, citing privacy and civil liberties concerns. The administration has said weakening of the act would draw a veto from US President George W Bush.