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Obama (and His Autopen) Sign Patriot Act Extension

Congress passed four-year extension just hours before deadline

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted May 27, 2011 6:21 AM CDT | Updated May 27, 2011 7:55 AM CDT

(Newser) – With just hours to go before the Patriot Act expired at midnight, Congress passed a four-year extension last night—but with President Obama in France, how to get it signed? With something called an autopen machine, apparently. The machine holds a pen and signs the president’s real signature, and can only be used with his authorization, the AP reports. The bill was signed just minutes before the midnight deadline.

Obama said he was glad the post-Sept. 11 act, which allows records searches and wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists, was extended because "it's an important tool for us to continue dealing with an ongoing terrorist threat.” Congress nearly hit the deadline because Sen. Rand Paul, who sees the bill as an invasion of privacy, wanted a chance to change portions of it. Ultimately, lawmakers rejected amendments that would temper the act’s powers and the bill passed the Senate 72-23 and the House 250-153. (In related news, Sen. Wyden says the real Patriot Act is classified.)

US President Barack Obama chats with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (not pictured) after a meeting at the Royal Barriere hotel on the sideline of the G8 summit in Deauville on May 26, 2011. (Getty Images)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 63 comments

Ucantusethatname

May 28, 2011 12:56 PM CDT

I do not believe that the founding fathers had this nonsense in mind: that the President is overseas drinking beer while citizens battle flooding and death at home, and Congress is passing legislation that the President signs on a golf course in Great Britain via electronic device. Isn't this man's teleprompter enough? This arrogant, inexperienced, narcissist must be defeated in 2012. Without his defeat, our country will never recover from the policies of a person whose greatest accomplishment are organizing a Chicago neighborhood and releasing a computer-generated birth certificate.

kokuaguy

May 27, 2011 8:31 PM CDT

Hey Evann -- how hard would it be to add a link so we could easily find out who voted "no"? http://www.opencongress.org/

stephinrazin

May 27, 2011 5:06 PM CDT

High treason. Bush and Obama both belong in prison. Restore the Republic!

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Obama (and His Autopen) Sign Patriot Act Extension

Congress passed four-year extension just hours before deadline

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Congress • Patriot Act • President Obama • Rand Paul

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