WASHINGTON -- The Senate ended its Patriot Act drama Tuesday by clearing a House bill to end the federal government's collection of bulk phone call data, while extending other surveillance techniques.
Georgia Republican Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue wanted a straight extension of the expiring Patriot Act provisions, and they voted against the USA Freedom Act, as it passed, 67-32.
The Georgians both voted for amendments by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to extend the time allotted to wind down the program, among other tweaks, but they were defeated. They sided with a fiery McConnell to oppose the final bill.
Said Isakson, in a prepared statement:
"The threats to our security here at home and throughout the world are growing at an alarming rate. At a time when the current administration's foreign policy has left a void in leadership around the world, we cannot afford to create intelligence gaps that could limit our capabilities to fight terrorism. I could not support a bill that, in its current form, downgrades our ability to track the movements and contacts of known terrorists and fails to provide our intelligence agencies with the tools and the time they need to stand up a new counterterrorism program."
Here's Perdue's statement:
"Once again, Washington dysfunction prevented us from achieving the best possible policy outcome. While I worked hard to strengthen this bill, I had concerns throughout the process, and remain unsatisfied with the final product. Today's bill does not achieve the appropriate balance between protecting our privacy and our national security."
Perdue and Isakson both supported a procedural motion to move forward on the bill Sunday night, with the hopes that it would be amended, but the Senate rejected all of McConnell's changes today.
President Barack Obama said he will sign the bill into law.
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