Posted on 05/23/2015 6:34:53 AM PDT by cotton1706
Mitch McConnell tried to use a time-tested tactic to break his fellow senators’ will and get what he wants: the threat of missing their vacation after a grueling, six-week work period.
It didn’t work.
The majority leader prioritized a fast-track trade bill over renewing three key PATRIOT Act provisions that expire on May 31. McConnell got the trade bill through on Friday evening, but his attempts to exhaust his colleagues and jam through a clean extension of surveillance laws blew apart just after 1 a.m. Saturday.
A trio of libertarian-leaning senators objected to McConnell’s attempts to offer even a two-day extension of the programs, leaving the Republican leader little option but to send lawmakers home and regroup for a last-ditch attempt next week to salvage the PATRIOT Act.
Like a stern school principal, the majority leader tried to keep his pupils in session until they finish their work, using the impending Memorial Day recess as motivation to keep the PATRIOT Act’s bulk data collection alive. But he miscalculated how hard Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) would fight any attempt at a clean extension.
Now the Senate will come back in session on May 31 at 4 p.m., just eight hours before the bulk data collection programs — as well as provisions allowing roving wiretaps and surveillance against suspected terrorists not affiliated with a known terrorist group — expire.
McConnell now has to hope that the objectors won’t ultimately want to be associated with shutteringprograms the government uses to combat terrorism — and that an immediate deadline, as opposed to one 10 days away after recess, will be enough to convince Paul and Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico to relent.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Threats, threats, always threats, with Mitch!
There's a simple answer: get a warrant to go after TERRORISTS and stop trying to gather information on potential POLITICAL enemies.
I’m still waiting for the day the RINOs use such tactics to corral Democrats into voting for something that actually shrinks government.
Mitch and the wimp Republicans disgust me.
Swallow a camel and strain at a gnat. The trade bill was the camel.
Remember to vote Republican in 2016. They will fight to roll back Obama’s big government agenda. /sarc
Who were the other two senators among this "trio"? The article is somewhat vague. It appears that one is Cruz, but I'm not sure - unless I need more coffee...
I know Wyden and Heinrich were working with Paul. That may be who is being referred to.
“There’s a new breed in the Senate,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). “They march to a different drummer.”
“a grueling, six-week work period. “
Its tough betraying the American public day in and day out.
BUMP! Perfect!
The article indicated that the two other Senators, joining Sen. Paul’s efforts, are Senator Wyden of Oregon and Senator Heinrich of New Mexico.
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