Yesterday, House Republican leaders managed to stave off an attempt to modify sections of the 2002 USA Patriot Act in a nail-biting roll call vote prolonged over half an hour. The time was extended long enough to allow nine House members to switch their votes, killing the amendment by 210-210. Bernard Sanders (I-Vermont) had proposed that parts of the law dealing with libraries and bookstore patrons should be nullified, but the GOP leadership was able to persuade enough members such portions were necessary with the help of a Justice Department letter urging their protection.

The failed amendment was made during the debate over the Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill. Two amendments were succesfully added to the measure, one directing the State Department to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and the other blocking funding for anti-HIV/AIDS programs that do not explicitiy oppose "sex trafficking".