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(COMTEX) B: House Votes to Limit Patriot Act Rules ( AP Online )

WASHINGTON, Jun 15, 2005 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- The House voted Wednesday to
block the FBI and the Justice Department from using the anti-terror Patriot Act
to search library and book store records, responding to complaints about
potential invasion of privacy of innocent readers.

Despite a veto threat from President Bush, lawmakers voted 238-187 to block the
part of the anti-terrorism law that allows the government to investigate the
reading habits of terror suspects.

The vote reversed a narrow loss last year by lawmakers complaining about threats
to privacy rights. They narrowed the proposal this year to permit the government
to continue to seek out records of Internet use at libraries.

The vote came as the House debated a $57.5 billion bill covering the departments
of Commerce, Justice and State. The Senate has yet to act on the measure, and
GOP leaders often drop provisions offensive to Bush during final negotiations.

Congress is preparing to extend the Patriot Act, which was passed quickly in the
emotional aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Then, Congress
included a "sunset" provision under which 15 of the law's provisions are to
expire at the end of this year.

Supporters of rolling back the library and bookstore provision said that the law
gives the FBI too much leeway to go on "fishing expeditions" on people's reading
habits and that innocent people could get tagged as potential terrorists based
on what they check out from a library.

"If the government suspects someone is looking up how to make atom bombs, go to
a court and get a search warrant," said Jerold Nadler, D-N.Y.

Supporters of the Patriot Act countered that the rules on reading records are a
potentially useful tool in finding terrorists and argued that the House was
voting to make libraries safe havens for them.

"If there are terrorists in libraries studying how to fly planes, how to put
together biological weapons, how to put together chemical weapons, nuclear
weapons ... we have to have an avenue through the federal court system so that
we can stop the attack before it occurs," said Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Fla.

Last year, a similar provision was derailed by a 210-210 tie tally after several
Republicans were pressured to switch their votes.

In the meantime, a number of libraries have begun disposing of patrons' records
quickly so they won't be available if sought under the law.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told Congress in April that the government has
never used the provision to obtain library, bookstore, medical or gun sale
records.

But when asked whether the administration would agree to exclude library and
medical records from the law, Gonzales demurred. "It should not be held against
us that we have exercised restraint," he said.

Authorities have gained access to records through voluntary cooperation from
librarians, Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller said.

By ANDREW TAYLOR
Associated Press Writer

Copyright 2005 Associated Press, All rights reserved

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