May 19, 2015
By Seung Min Kim and Burgess Everett
Republican divisions on Capitol Hill (click here) over the PATRIOT Act deepened Tuesday as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell privately made his case against a popular House bill that would end the National Security Agency’s bulk data collection program.
McConnell said he plans to put the House-passed USA Freedom Act on the Senate floor later this week — a move that could show it can’t pass the Senate. But in a closed-door party lunch Tuesday, McConnell made clear his preference for a two-month extension of the current law. And to bolster his case against the House measure, the GOP leadership invited Michael Mukasey to meet with Senate Republicans, and the former attorney general argued in favor of keeping the PATRIOT Act provisions intact....
McConnell actually wants to pass The Patriot Act intact as it stands today. He isn't willing to recognize the court's decision in any measure.
The US House (click here for calendar) is leaving on Thursday and won't be taking up any other bills regarding citizen monitoring. The US House will be back on June 1st.
By Seung Min Kim and Burgess Everett
Republican divisions on Capitol Hill (click here) over the PATRIOT Act deepened Tuesday as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell privately made his case against a popular House bill that would end the National Security Agency’s bulk data collection program.
McConnell said he plans to put the House-passed USA Freedom Act on the Senate floor later this week — a move that could show it can’t pass the Senate. But in a closed-door party lunch Tuesday, McConnell made clear his preference for a two-month extension of the current law. And to bolster his case against the House measure, the GOP leadership invited Michael Mukasey to meet with Senate Republicans, and the former attorney general argued in favor of keeping the PATRIOT Act provisions intact....
McConnell actually wants to pass The Patriot Act intact as it stands today. He isn't willing to recognize the court's decision in any measure. The US House (click here for calendar) is leaving on Thursday and won't be taking up any other bills regarding citizen monitoring. The US House will be back on June 1st.
