In a stunning turn of events, the House of Representatives has narrowly defeated the effort to “fast track” the USA Patriot Act extension for an additional 10 months. The vote needed a two-thirds majority, but managed to only get 277-148.
It had been presumed to be a slam-dunk vote in the Republican dominated Congress, but instead proved to be the first of what could be many examples of the freshmen GOP reps breaking with long-standing party support for the controversial act.
Indeed, while the usual Republican dissenters like Reps. Connie Mack (R – FL) and Ron Paul (R – TX) opposed the extension, it may have been impossible to do had not nine of the freshmen bucked the “safe” choice of voting for the extension and stood against the provisions.
Though the vote still shows a majority in favor of the extension and it may be possible to push it through by hook or by crook, it will be extremely difficult to do so before the provisions of the act expire at the end of the month.
It will also put the Senate on notice, as they fight over which of three more ambitious extensions to approve. Reconciling such a bill with the House will be extremely difficult if the House has enough opposition to block even the 10 month extension. Below is a full list of the Republicans who opposed the extension, with freshmen in bold.
Justin Amash (Mich.), Roscoe G. Bartlett (Md.), Rob Bishop (Utah), Paul Broun (Ga.), John Campbell (Calif.), John J. Duncan Jr. (Tenn.), Michael G. Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Christopher P. Gibson (N.Y.), Tom Graves (Ga.) Dean Heller (Nev.), Randy Hultgren (Ill.), Timothy V. Johnson (Ill.), Walter B. Jones (N.C.), Jack Kingston (Ga.), Raul R. Labrador (Idaho), Connie Mack (Fla.), Kenny Marchant (Tex.), Tom McClintock (Calif.), Ron Paul (Tex.), Denny Rehberg (Mont.), Phil Roe (Tenn.), Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.), Robert Schilling (Ill.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Rob Woodall (Ga.), Don Young (Alaska).
I never thought I'd see the day! Congressmen who were elected to change things actually tried to change things after getting elected! I'm stunned, just stunned!
Don't get so excited, it's a ploy by the Republican Freshmen to extract bribes from those who profit from the Patriot Act, like those involved and profiting from the DHS. WE can hope though that some of these freshmen were violated by the TSA before they were elected and it's payback time. But, it's bribe money and they will change their votes and the Patriot Act and its TSA fascist henchmen will continue with business as usual.
I coulda gone all day without hearing that. But you're probably right.
Unfortunately, Jamie Herrera, freshwoman Republican tea-partier from Washington state, is not on the list
Wow! So I can HOPE I would maybe DARE to visit the US again… so I can HOPE US may once again become a sort of a FREE country? Very good news indeed.
Oh sh#t, there seems to be a "new" paradigm at work here. Thank you gentlemen and/or ladies for considering 'we the people' as opposed to the "Patriot Act." Well, the nine "Republican" freshmen that defied Boner Boehner. Wait a minute, Rep. Ron Paul is NOT any sort of "freshman." Listen to the good doctor kids. Listen to Dr. Paul's wise counsel and learn.
Help save America from the "War Party." Oh yeah.
Thanks to 9 Republicans who choose Liberty over police State, America still has a chance to save itself.
Are you kidding? 210 Republicans supported extending the Patriot Act. One hundred sixty-seven Democrats voted against it. Which party honors the Constitution more?
Not to worry. Pelosi and Boehner will lean on just enough people to get the 9 votes needed.
The 9 just want more bribe money and their votes will change, for the "good of the country to be secure".
Both of those swine are dangerous indian-giving liars
I am NOT a fan of the republican congress, but I enthusiastically applaud their putting the brakes on the "Patriot" Act.
The leadership don't need the 9 votes. When it comes back onto the floor, they'll need only a simple majority – which they already have. This was a stunt to give those Tea Partyers a few headlines shouting their "independence" – something they can wave in front of the voters when they start campaigning in 10 months to prove that they did something and didn't cave to the old repubs in charge. It was a stunt and most news media seem to have bitten large.
Evrybody need to get on the phones and let their 'reps' know that they will move heaven and earth to defeat them if they go on record supporting this Nazi style, unconstitutional, bull#hit when it comes back up for a vote! (and you know they will !)
this is a far reach to say the baggers did this only 8 of them broke rank hardly a mutiny and we all know it will pass anyway down the road but keep up the fantasy of the tea party jeeeze
90% of the Freshmen voted FOR it. The real story is that Democrat support fell from 62% last year to 35%. Does this suggest a House Democratic rebellion against Obama?
Well, finally something positive from the Tea Party. But this certainly looks like the mirror image of the antiwar Democrats who please their base by voting against war funding until their votes are needed, then go along with the MIC and cough up the money. I note that 122 Democrats also voted "No." We'll see what happens when the rulers need their votes.
What I couldn't believe is that my Congressman, Mike Honda (D), who never seems to get anything right actually voted correctly this time. Maybe all the letters I sent him in DownsizeDC's campaign actually had some effect.
nah, he probably was just so hungover that he pushed the wrong button!
So-o-o, let's say the Patriot Act is indeed derailed (and that is not certain in the long run), what exactly does that mean for you and me as individuals?
We can hope for the disempowerment of the Dept. of Homeland (In)Security, but will that actually happen?
We can hope for wiretap-free phone conversations, but will that actually happen?
We can hope that our emails and blog posts will no longer be scrutinized, but will that actually happen?
The tools for all these privacy intrusions have been in place for long enough now that they won't be easily dislodged. It would be great to see all those who have participated in this atrocity relegated to the ranks of the unemployed.
good post! we're already too far down the road to totalitarianism to turn anything back by legislative means. The only way to get rid of all that is when the government has a Soviet style implosion and economic collapse.
The USG/MIC, Mafia Industrial Complex, is following the Soviet model. The only difference being that the Soviets didn't have access to the world's financial markets like the USG does so it can prolong the collapse. The fact of the matter is that the USG snatched defeat from the jaws, of the delusional of victory. This prolonged collapse will enable the INTERNATIONAL CORPORATOCRACY WEALTHY PREDATORY CAPITALIST WELFARE KINGS to continue profiting longer from the Pentagon protection racket scheme of; fund US, the Pentagon, for protection or else………!
It is a good sign ! Unfortunately, the leadership will bring back the vote a 2nd time looking for a simple majority. But this gives us hope !
It was mostly DEMS who said no way.