With the deadline looming for the expiration of Section 215 of the Patriot Act, nominally the basis for NSA surveillance, two senators, Rand Paul (R – KY) and Ron Wyden (D – OR), are both planning filibusters of any attempt to renew it.
“I’m tired of extending a bad law,” insisted Wyden, saying that he wants major reforms before there is any consideration of Section 215.
Sen. Paul concurred, declaring “we are not going to let them run over us” on the issue, and that he believes he can muster more support for a filibuster against the extension.
Senate leadership, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R – KY), are pushing for the renewal as a way to keep the surveillance program going, despite a court ruling last week declaring that Section 215 did not grant the broad power the administration claims.
On the other hand, the court did not order an end to the NSA surveillance, despite ruling the program illegal, saying it wants Congress to weigh in. That seems unlikely, and the Section 215 renewal is likely the closest the issue will ever get to debate in Congress.
"…the court did not order an end to the NSA surveillance, despite ruling the program illegal, saying it wants Congress to weigh in."
Actions like this are the reason the US has become a lawless nation. The courts are part of the 3rd and independent branch of the government. They can and should act independently of the other two branches and are not obligated to "let Congress weigh in". Judges took an oath to obey the constitution, not "let Congress weigh in" first before their ruling can take effect.
If judges have determined an act to be unconstitutional, that's it. End of story. The illegal activity must stop. If congress subsequently creates new laws, those new laws must also follow the constitution.
More power to them. A shame the American people won't weigh in and give traitors in Congress and earful.
I agree. However, the average USG citizen has no idea what's in the
Patriot Act, or really care. I actually heard one (fool) claim (he)
had no problem with giving up (some) of his civil liberties.
I asked which ones?
Andrew Jackson set the stage for ignoring the courts when he said "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." Our Republic was unraveling very early in our history. That the appeals court could rule something unconstitutional, yet it takes an Act of Congress to cease the activity is absurd.
"…wants Congress to weigh in."
Oh, but the Congress has weighed in…they want to ignore the ruling and renew it – regardless whether it is illegal. Illegalities have never bothered the Congress before, why start now? If you ask them, I'm sure 70% of Congress would say that torture (of Islamists) is OK.
This is just kabuki…Rand Paul is running for President and Ron Wyden is running for re-election. If they go through their threats to filibuster, as soon as they give up, McConnell will ram through the renewal – nothing is going to change. It's all show.
Which sounds good until you realize that NSA will continue the spying regardless of the law. Indeed making the spying illegal only serves to lull the American people into a false sense of privacy to drop their guard about protecting their business secrets from government looting.