Kingston supports Patriot Act limits opposed by other Georgia Republicans.

It's a rare day when Republican Jack Kingston, arguably the most conservative member of Georgia's congressional delegation, and Democrats John Lewis and Cynthia McKinney, arguably the most liberal, see eye-to-eye on a divisive issue.

While Georgia's six other Republican congressmen voted to continue to allow investigators to check library and bookstore records under the USA Patriot Act, Kingston voted with the six Democrats who supported the rollbacks.

Democrats were able to win support from enough Republicans Wednesday to limit the provisions on a 238-187 vote. The Senate still must act on the measure, and Georgia Republicans Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson signaled they're reluctant to limit the law enforcement powers.

Although Kingston was Georgia's only Republican congressman supporting the rollbacks, former Rep. Bob Barr also was a vocal advocate of the move. Barr left the House in 2003 and his current responsibilities include consulting for the American Civil Liberties Union, which has been opposed to numerous provisions of the act.

(6-17-05, The Associated Press.)