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Senate rejects reauthorization of Patriot Act

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Senate on Friday rejected attempts to reauthorize several provisions of the nation's top anti-terror law as infringing too much on Americans' privacy, dealing a major defeat to President George W. Bush and Republican leaders.

In a crucial vote Friday morning as Congress raced toward adjournment, the bill's Senate supporters were not able to garner the 60 votes necessary to overcome a threatened filibuster, a technique used to delay debate. The final vote was 52-47

Edit: The later update to the story points out: "Frist changed his vote at the last moment after seeing the critics would win. He decided to vote with the prevailing side so he could call for a new vote at any time."

The provisions set to expire 12/31: http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/16/patriot.provisions.ap/index.html

Son of Edit: From the Washington Post, here's who to applaud or chastise, depending on your position:

The four Republicans who backed the filibuster because of their opposition to the bill were Chuck Hagel (Neb.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), John Sununu (N.H.) and Larry Craig (Idaho).

Two Democrats voted to end the filibuster: Tim Johnson (S.D.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.).