It’s high time that we stop just renewing laws, for years at a time, unamended, without debate, and by unanimous consent!
On the Patriot Act, and some of its odious provisions, Rand Paul is taking a stand and I stand with him!
The Patriot Act was written at a time of emotional fervor. Let it expire. The Congress can easily create a new law with provisions that would be good for the people, and amend them as needed. That’s what legislatures are SUPPOSED to do, not back their members into a corner, threatening “renew, or else!”
Well, they did create a new proposed law - the USA Freedom Act, which is what the House passed, and is the only option if the Senate doesn’t want to have the Patriot Act go away entirely at midnight.
Admittedly, I don’t know a lot about the differences between the Patriot Act and the USA Freedom Act, but I know it does eliminate the bulk data collection that many have had concerns about.
The USA Freedom Act passed fairly easily in the House, and fell three votes short in the Senate. The plan had been to re-vote on USA Freedom tonight, but Rand Paul and to force a delay, meaning the whole thing will expire.