Congress extends eavesdropping law

Published 10:32 pm Tuesday, January 29, 2008

WASHINGTON — Congress on Tuesday gave two more weeks of life to a law that allows the government more freedom to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists inside the United States, buying the Senate time to pass a bill to replace it.

Critics say the law, which was to expire Friday, allows the government to eavesdrop on innocent Americans.

Senators approved the extension by voice vote Tuesday night, giving them more time to break an impasse over how to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Earlier in the day, the House voted in favor of the 15-day extension.