Obama supports extending Patriot Act provisions

Obama supports extending Patriot Act provisions

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11136395

Posted: Sep 15, 2009 5:20 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration wants to extend three key parts of the Patriot Act that are supposed to expire at the end of the year.

The Justice Department sent that word to Congress in a letter that's now been made public.

At issue is the authority granted by the law to access business records, as well as to monitor so-called "lone wolf" terrorists and to conduct roving wiretaps.

Rights groups have criticized the provision on business records, saying it gives the government access to citizens' library records. As a candidate, President Barack Obama had said he would take a close look at the law, based on his background in constitutional law.

The Justice Department says it's willing to consider stronger civil rights protections as part of the extension.

The American Civil Liberties Union says the administration's position is a "mixed bag."