Pressure builds on Speaker Boehner for NSA vote

House Republican leaders are under pressure to allow a vote on legislation that would curb the National Security Agency (NSA).

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has defended the NSA's spying programs, but a growing bloc of his conference is signing on to a bill that would end the NSA's practice of collecting records on virtually all US phone calls, which was revealed in leaks by Edward Snowden. One House Democratic aide argued that the Republican leaders are boxed in. If they don't allow a vote on standalone NSA reform legislation, the aide said, members will demand NSA-related amendments to must-pass legislation like the defense and intelligence authorization bills. "Leadership is working to ensure that there is a well-coordinated process with all interested parties going forward," a GOP leadership aide said.

(Nov 30)