Objections from Sen. Rand Paul ensured that bulk data collection, and the Patriot Act re-authorization, failed to pass during last night’s extraordinary 1:30 a.m. Senate session.
The Kentucky Republican objected to all short-term extension attempts made last night, forcing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to postpone the vote until May 31, just before the critical legislation is poised to expire.
“It’s not about making a point, it’s about trying to prevent the bulk collection of data,” Paul told reporters just after the session.
Paul tweeted last night:
The Senate will return one week from Sunday. With your help we can end illegal NSA spying once and for all.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 23, 2015
The Senate has refused to reauthorize bulk data collection. I am proud to have stood up for the Bill of Rights. But our fight is not over
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 23, 2015
Paul made it clear in an email to supporters that he is not done fighting the bill.
“Once government bureaucrats know every aspect of our lives — what we watch, what we buy, what we eat, where we worship — it won’t be long until they try to run them ‘for our own good,'” he wrote. “That’s why it’s critical you and I hold the spy state off for 8 more hours on May 31st.”
When a reporter asked Paul just after the late-night session if his objections were a fundraising tactic, Politico reported Paul said: “I think people don’t question my sincerity.”
Paul had promised to do everything possible to stop the bill for weeks, and his objections last night follow his 10-hour filibuster earlier this week.
