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George II

(67,782 posts)
Wed May 13, 2020, 04:00 PM May 2020

Senate defeats amendment to shield browsing histories in FISA searches

Source: Politico

The Senate on Wednesday blocked a bipartisan effort to shield Americans’ internet browsing and search histories from warrantless surveillance.

Lawmakers voted 59-37 on an amendment by Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to a House-approved bill that would reauthorize domestic surveillance authorities. It was the first in a series of at least three amendment votes that senators agreed to in March.

The intelligence tools expired on March 15 after senators left town without renewing key sections of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, amid objections from privacy hawks who said the compromise bill didn't go far enough to safeguard Americans’ personal data and communications.

Wyden, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, noted in a floor speech that Americans are relying on the internet more than ever due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/13/senate-browsing-histories-fisa-254970



Wyden's Amendment lost by ONE vote! Four Senators didn't vote:

Alexander
Murray
Sanders
Sasse

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Senate defeats amendment to shield browsing histories in FISA searches (Original Post) George II May 2020 OP
Sanders one of the most absent Senators Bernardo de La Paz May 2020 #1
It needed 60 votes to pass. George II May 2020 #3
Not a majority? Does the main bill require only a majority? Bernardo de La Paz May 2020 #4
Passing a bill or amendment in the Senate requires a simple majority Massacure May 2020 #7
Thanks. I got it now. Enough votes to pass bill & amendment but not enough cloture votes to amend.nt Bernardo de La Paz May 2020 #8
thanks bernie nt msongs May 2020 #2
Bernie didn't vote? awesomerwb1 May 2020 #5
Browsing history? keithbvadu2 May 2020 #6

Massacure

(7,522 posts)
7. Passing a bill or amendment in the Senate requires a simple majority
Wed May 13, 2020, 10:08 PM
May 2020

The twist is invoking cloture to end debate on a bill or amendment requires requires 3/5 of the Senators (normally 60 votes). This leads to what is known as the 'Filibuster', where a majority has enough votes to pass a bill but the Senate cannot vote on it because the majority does not have enough the votes to end debate.

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