Panel votes to extend parts of Patriot Act

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee, on an 11-8 vote, approved extending portions of the U.S. Patriot Act due to expire Dec. 31.

The provisions would allow investigators to use roving wiretaps to monitor suspects who may swap cell phone numbers, get national security targets' business records and track so-called "lone wolves" who could be acting on their own or on behalf of foreign powers or terrorist groups, The Washington Post reported Friday.

Several Democrats and civil liberties advocates said the legislation doesn't do much to bolster privacy protections while some Republicans said the bill would still burden investigators.

The bill would also tighten the legal standard for the FBI's issuing of administration subpoenas known as national security letters, which allow the bureau to obtain phone, credit and other personal records. The bill would require the FBI to provide "specific facts" that show the requested records are relevant to a terrorism investigation.

Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the bill's co-sponsor, said he was "confident" the bill balances national security with privacy and civil liberties concerns.

Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., said the bill "is heading in the wrong direction."

Civil liberties advocates also expressed concern, the Post said.

"The administration deliberately took a wrong turn on civil liberties here," said Leslie Harris, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology.