House Could Reconsider Patriot Act as Early as Thursday

The House could reconsider the Patriot Act as early as Thursday.

The bill unexpectedly imploded last night after the House required a two-thirds vote to pass it.

This new strategy could require a simple majority.

The Rules Committee announced an emergency hearing on Wednesday on provisions of the legislation, which if not renewed, are scheduled to expire at the end of the month.

Anticipating eventual success, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul released a statement Wednesday saying he would oppose the bill in the Senate.

"I firmly believe it is a primary duty of our government to do what it can to protect the lives of its citizens. But I also believe it must in equal measure protect our liberty, and in this our government has failed us. We should remember the words of Ben Franklin, who famously said ‘Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety,'" Paul said.

"It is time for Congress to stop quietly extending this law and avoiding a serious discussion about protecting all the rights of all Americans. I will insist the Senate allow debate and amendments as we consider this important legislation,” he concluded.

Paul's father, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, voted against the legislation on Tuesday. He told Fox News that the bill guts the Constitution.

"I believe strongly that you have to have reasonable cause, you have to name who you're going to investigate in the places and the things you want. The Patriot Act allows the government to look at anything, everywhere without specific indication. So if you care about the Fourth Amendment, you can not support the Patriot Act."