House Votes to Limit Patriot Act Rules...

Lawmakers voted Wednesday to block the Justice Department and the FBI from using the Patriot Act to peek at library records and bookstore sales slips.
The House voted 238-187 despite a veto threat from Bush to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that allows the government to investigate the reading habits of terror suspects.
The vote reversed a narrow loss last year by lawmakers concerned about the potential invasion of privacy of innocent library users. They narrowed the proposal this year to permit the government to continue to seek out records of Internet use at libraries.In the meantime, a number of libraries have begun disposing of patrons' records quickly so they won't be available if sought under the law.Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told Congress in April that the government has never used the provision to obtain library, bookstore, medical or gun sale records.But when asked whether the administration would agree to exclude library and medical records from the law, Gonzales demurred."It should not be held against us that we have exercised restraint," he said.Authorities have gained access to records through voluntary cooperation from librarians, Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller said.