AP:
Without any apparent supporters for his filibuster, Feingold agreed to Frist’s insistence on holding a procedural test vote Thursday that would clear the way for Senate debate on the legislation. Frist said the Senate would hold its final votes at the end of the month, when Congress returns from a weeklong recess.
During the process, Feingold will try to introduce several amendments that would strengthen protections for civil liberties. One would set a four-year expiration date on the use of so-called national security letters under the Patriot Act _ secret government requests for information, according to Feingold’s office.