Day of wrangling

The Senate yesterday:

Approved a six-month extension of the USA Patriot Act, which is scheduled to expire at the end of December.

Rejected opening the Alaska wildlife refuge to oil companies, even though Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska had included the measure onto an essential defense spending bill that includes money for troops and billions for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Passed a $39.7 billion package of deficit cuts on Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote. Democrats forced enough changes to require the House to vote again on the measure before President Bush can sign it.