Senate negotiates Patriot Act extension

WASHINGTON — Hours of back-room Senate negotiations resulted in an extension of the anti-terrorism USA Patriot Act late Wednesday night.

Senators also blocked oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but Republicans salvaged a $39.7 billion package of deficit cuts on Vice President Dick Cheney’s tie-breaking vote.

The details at a glance:

Patriot Act

The six-month extension, approved on a voice vote, still needs approval from the House and President Bush. The House is scheduled to reconvene today, but senior Republicans there have opposed any extension, saying most of the provisions that expire Dec. 31 should be renewed permanently.

Deficit cuts

Even Cheney’s presence and the 51-50 vote in favor of deficit cuts left the White House short of victory. Democrats forced late changes in the bill, enough to require the House to revote before the measure can go to President Bush.

ANWR legislation

The vote to block ANWR marked a huge triumph for Senate Democrats, who mounted a filibuster that Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and others fell four votes short of breaking.

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