Countdown: The Patriot Act Deadline Approaching

The Patriot Act is set to expire next Friday.

If you haven't been following the debate, this post will bring you up to speed on the upcoming countdown to the new expiration date of the Patriot Act. Congress granted a five-week extension at the end of the last year. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter this week urged fellow senators to either approve the agreement that's been hammered out with the House or pass another extension.

While the Act gives law enforcement new tools to fight terrorism, a bipartisan group of senators says the renewal plan doesn't safeguard privacy enough. House officials have said they're finished negotiating and are standing behind the earlier agreement with Senate bargainers.

Categories: Patriot Act, Deadline