Senate barreling toward surveillance standoff

The Senate isn't getting any closer to reforming the nation's spying laws or reauthorizing expiring portions of the Patriot Act with fewer than three legislative weeks left for lawmakers to do so. On May 5th, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) would not pledge to take up legislation called the USA Freedom Act, which is expected to gain broad support in the House. “We’re going to try to do something to avoid expiration at the end of the month,” he told reporters. “Exactly how that plays out will be determined in part by how much time is left to achieve [a deal].” Instead, Majority Leader McConnell indicated that the starting point for his chamber would be legislation he and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced to make a "clean" extension of the existing law for five years, which he would open up for amendments.

“I think, most likely, the outcome is some kind of an extension,” he said. “Chairman Burr and I consulted and we agreed that the underlying bill would be a simple extension but it would be open for amendment, whenever we are able to fully turn to it.” “The question is whether we can do all of that between now and Memorial Day, and I can’t tell you right now," he added. The lack of certainty about a path forward could lead to a heightened standoff as lawmakers approach a June 1 deadline to extend or reform the Patriot Act. With members of both parties pledging to oppose a "clean" reauthorization of the law, it seems unlikely Republican leaders would be able to get the 60 votes they need to avoid a filibuster on the bill.