Senate Republicans said Sunday they’ve failed to reach a deal to extend the controversial national security surveillance program that exists under the post-Sept. 11 Patriot Act, which is set to expire at midnight.
In a 77-to-17 vote, the Senate voted to instead begin debating a bill passed by the House to overhaul the program, which gives the National Security Agency power to collect phone records in bulk.
Kentucky Republican and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he believed the House bill had “some serious flaws,” but approved the vote in an attempt to keep the program alive. GOP Sen. Rand Paul led the objections to extending the program as it stands. Read more at the New York Times.
{CB Frommer-Matzav.com Newscenter}
