Senators join forces to roll back parts of Patriot Act

Nearly 200 communities have passed resolutions condemning the Patriot Act and refusing to comply with it.

“It’s time we adjusted this law to assure civil liberties are not being trampled,” Mr. Craig said.

Sen. Michael D. Crapo, Idaho Republican, called the bill a “sincere, real bipartisan effort that has meaningful chance of passing into law.”

Mr. Craig said he expects the Justice Department will oppose the measure but predicted President Bush would sign it into law if they attach it to a spending measure. He said a “natural” choice would be the appropriations bill for the Commerce, Justice and State departments.

Several organizations endorsed the SAFE Act in a letter to lawmakers yesterday, including Gun Owners of America, the Free Congress Foundation, Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, Center for National Security Studies, American Library Association, ACU and ACLU.

Mr. Durbin said it was possible to be “both safe and free in America” and that it was the “responsibility in Congress to draw that line.”

“Frankly, we’re crossing party lines to do the right thing,” Mr. Durbin said.

Noting how rare it is for Mr. Durbin and Mr. Craig to join forces and co-author legislation, Republican Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire joked it could only mean one thing: “One of them has not read it.”