In a major setback to the Bush administration, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has effectively prevented the passage of a bill reauthorizing the controversial Patriot Act.

CNN reports that the bill’s supporters were unable to gather the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster against the bill mounted by Sens. Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin), and Larry Craig (R-Idaho). The final vote on ending the filibuster was 52-47, falling eight votes short of the 60 votes required.

According to CNN, five Republicans voted against the reauthorization: Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, John Sununu of New Hampshire, Craig and Frist. Two Democrats voted to extend the provisions: Sens. Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Ben Nelson of Nebraska.

Unless a compromise can be reached, 16 of the Patriot Act’s provisions will expire on December 31, including the authorization of secret wire taps and secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries.

About Guide to Liberal Politics Deborah White reports here that a proposal offered by the bipartisan coalition to extend the Patriot Act for three months in order to allow for more study and debate was rejected by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee).

Critics of the Patriot Act have argued that its provisions, while intended to fight terror, are excessive to the point of infringing on Americans’ privacy and liberty guaranteed by the Constitution.