US House votes to curb Patriot Act, defies Bush - Yahoo! News

US House votes to curb Patriot Act, defies Bush - Yahoo! News

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday defied
President Bush by approving a measure making it harder for federal agents to secretly gather information on people's library reading habits and bookstore purchases.
The House voted 238-187 to scale back the government's powers to conduct secret investigations that were authorized by the Patriot Act, a post-Sept. 11 anti-terrorism law. "We can fight terrorism without undermining basic constitutional rights. That's what the message of today is about," said Rep. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who pushed the measure through the House with the support of 38 Republicans.

Signs of sanity?