Arlen Specter: “we are approaching a vote to invoke cloture on the PATRIOT Act which will require 60 Senators to cut off debate so that…”

“we are approaching a vote to invoke cloture on the PATRIOT Act which will require 60 Senators to cut off debate so that we can move ahead to a vote up or down on the act. The act, as is well known, is set to expire on December 31, 2005. When the Judiciary Committee, which I chair, approached the reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act, we tackled it early in the year, and there was a committee bill, which I sponsored, which had remarkable success getting a unanimous vote in the committee, which has Senators from both ends of the political spectrum. It then came to the floor in a manner perhaps unprecedented: It went through by unanimous consent. There was no debate. Not a single Senator objected. It was heralded as uniquely well balanced, from the considerations of providing adequate tools for law enforcement to continue the fight against terrorism, which is vital for our national safety, and balanced to protect civil liberties. Under our system of government, the Senate does not have the last word. I only wish that were so. We have a bicameral system. Then the legislation has to receive the signature of the President. We then went into negotiations with the House of Representatives.…”