From Nat Hentoff in The Washington Times:
As I often have written, Sen. Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is performing a needed public service by criticizing the Democrats on that committee and on the Senate floor for using filibusters to obstruct the president's nominations of federal circuit court judges.
But now, Mr. Hatch himself is refusing to hold a full hearing by the Judiciary Committee on a strongly bipartisan bill to improve � not repeal � sections of the increasingly controversial USA Patriot Act.
Introduced by Sen. Larry Craig, Idaho Republican, and Sen. Richard Durbin, Illinois Democrat, the Security and Freedom Ensured (SAFE) Act has 18 Republican and Democratic co-sponsors in the Senate. There is also a companion, bipartisan House bill (H.R. 3552). Support for these bills spans the political spectrum, from the American Conservative Union to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Details here. (via How Appealing)