[JURIST] The US House on Wednesday approved a new short-term extension of the USA Patriot Act [PDF text] that will last until March 10. Certain provisions of the law were originally set to expire on December 31, but were extended until February 3 [JURIST report] when Congress failed to reach an agreement [JURIST report] on a long-term extension before Christmas. President Bush has pushed for a permanent reauthorization [JURIST report] but Democratic senators, joined by four Republican senators, have called for the renewal legislation to incorporate greater protections for civil liberties. Negotiations stalled again [JURIST report] last week, prompting the additional one-month extension [JURIST report]. The Senate must approve the new extension and is expected to do so before Friday. Reuters has more.

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