Lamar Smith

Patriot Act falls at first hurdle

The first leg of a process to renew the controversial US Patriot Act failed in the House of Representatives here in Washington DC on Tuesday night.
 
A required two-thirds majority was not achieved on the floor of the chamber.

The bill is likely to be reintroduced on another occasion but it is a blow to the new Republican leadership in the US House.

During the debate the arguments for and against were vigorous.