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GUESTS: Mitch Jesseritch, journalist covering national politics for Pacifica Radio and Free Speech Radio News, Nancy Talanian, Director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee

The US Senate has passed legislation renewing the USA Patriot Act. The Thursday vote was 89-10. This ended an impasse on Capitol Hill that lasted months, virtually guaranteeing that the measure will go to President George W. Bush to be signed. The Senate apparently agreed to add privacy rights protections to the law. Final passage of the reauthorization bill is now assured. Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, who had led a filibuster against the renewal, complained along with some other law makers, that the restrictions on government power would be virtually meaningless in practice.