Earlier this week, the House failed to pass legislation to extend three provisions of the PATRIOT Act. These provisions are controversial since many believe they are in direct conflict with the 4th Amendment.

Jason Chaffetz voted in favor of extending these provisions.

His vote makes me wonder if he is going to run for Senate in 2012. If Chaffetz wants to defeat 6-term incumbent Senator Orrin hatch, he's going to need the help of the same tea party people who defeated Senator Bob Bennett in 2010. A large number of those people are vehemently opposed to the Patriot Act, so this vote may make it more difficult to gain their enthusiastic support.

Chaffetz' vote also looks hypocritical given his vocal opposition to the TSA's new invasive security measures. He cites the 4th Amendment in his arguments against the TSA full body scanners and pat downs. Yet he voted in favor of extending PATRIOT Act provisions that are in violation of that Amendment.

It looks to me like Congressman Chaffetz is vying for a leadership position in the House and his vote on the PATRIOT Act is part of his pandering to Speaker Boehner and other big-wigs in the Republican Party. Interestingly enough, today Chaffetz is serving (for the first time) as Speaker pro tempore in the House. It seems Jason is already being rewarded for abandoning his principles.


Update: Rep. Chaffetz issued a statement explaining his vote. Click here to view it.