As key Patriot Act provisions expired Sunday night, Georgia Republican U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue shifted their votes to allow House-passed surveillance restrictions to go forward.
The difference was the playing field: Before Memorial Day, Perdue and Isakson had a choice between the House’s USA Freedom Act, which would end the government’s bulk phone call data collection program, and extending the Patriot Act as is. The Georgians chose the latter, and both options failed to get the needed 60 votes.
Sunday night, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell only put the House bill up as a chance to move toward restoration of at least some of the Patriot Act authorities.
“While Senator Isakson still has serious concerns about the USA Freedom Act and wants to see improvements, he has even more serious concerns about allowing intelligence authorities that are vital to our national security to expire completely,” Isakson spokeswoman Amanda Maddox said.
Perdue, a spokeswoman said, had similar thinking and is looking for opportunities to strengthen the bill through amendments. McConnell, among other changes, has proposed extending the amount of time for the government to wind down the call data collection, as private companies would hold the information.
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