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Snowden’s Revenge: USA “Freedom” (Surveillance) Act Fails in Senate
http://www.juancole.com/2015/05/snowdens-revenge-surveillance.htmlThe failure of these bills to pass shows just how dramatically the politics of surveillance changed once the extent of the governments surveillance programs became known to the public.
Snowdens Revenge: USA Freedom [Surveillance] Act Fails in Senate
May. 24, 2015
By Nadia Prupis, staff writer | (Commondreams.org)
In a move that is being hailed by civil liberties advocates as a victory for privacy rights, the U.S. Senate on Friday rejected the USA Freedom Act, a bill that sought to rein in the National Security Agencys (NSA) spying powers but that would have reauthorized some of the most controversial provisions of the USA Patriot Act.
By a vote of 57-42, the Senate did not pass the bill that would have required 60 votes to move forward, which means that the NSA must start winding down its domestic mass surveillance program this week. The Senate also rejected a two-month extension of the existing program by 54-45, also short of the necessary 60 votes.
The Obama administration had previously warned Congress that if the Senate was unable to extend Section 215 of the Patriot Act by May 31, which the NSA leans on to justify its mass surveillance program, the government would need to launch its shutdown of the phone records collection operation ahead of time. With the U.S. House of Representatives already gone for Memorial Day holiday, the Senate had until this weekend to resolve its gridlock.
Section 215 is set to expire on June 1 absent congressional action.
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Snowden’s Revenge: USA “Freedom” (Surveillance) Act Fails in Senate (Original Post)
unhappycamper
May 2015
OP
Vattel
(9,289 posts)1. Yay!!!! Victory!!!!
bemildred
(90,061 posts)2. I wonder if this will throw the economy into recession again?
Less strain on the North American electric grid anyway.
LuvNewcastle
(16,820 posts)3. Finally, some good news.
Don't you love how they throw words like "freedom" and "patriot" in the names of these horrible bills? It's like someone up there is having a nice little giggle while they say 'fuck you' to the citizens. There are a lot of people working for the government who should never see the light of day again.
Demeter
(85,373 posts)4. And to think, Hope and Change FINALLY Come to USA
from a slight and weedy geek of 31....one who I am proud to claim as a brother-in-spirit. Or maybe son would be more age-appropriate, since he's 2.75 months younger than my daughter.