Temporary Extension Looking More Likely; Four Republicans Hold Key

Excerpt from the Democratic Leadership Alert, Senate Floor Schedule:

Before we leave for the break, we also expect to consider the Labor, HHS Appropriations conference report, a temporary extension of the Patriot Act, Executive Calendar nominations, an adjournment resolution, and any other legislative items cleared for action.

(CAIR Note: Leadership alerts, or Whip notices, are issued daily to inform Senators and their staff on expected events on the Senate floor. There is no mention of the Patriot Act in today's Majority Daily Whip Notice. Whips are Members of Congress who are assigned by their respective party to count potential votes and promote party unity when voting. )

From National Journal:
The Senate also might address an extension or reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act today

Excerpts from United Press International:

Four Republican members of the U.S. Senate have joined the bulk of the Democratic caucus in stopping votes making the USA Patriot Act permanent.

While the Republican Party leadership has been pointing to Democrats seeking extra time to discuss reauthorization of the act, it is the Republican holdouts who have control over the measure.

Those senators, The Washington Post points out, cannot be pigeonholed: Larry Craig is a strong conservative from Idaho, and Chuck Hagel is a Nebraskan thought to have his sights set on the presidency while Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and New Hampshire's John Sununu come from families that have long served their states.

The Republican holdouts have the same concerns as the Democrats about the Patriot Act and they don't appear ready to budge.

"I took an oath of office to the Constitution. I didn't take an oath of office to my party or my president," Hagel said recently.