Lawmakers affiliated with the Tea Party joined with Democrats to block the passage of an extension of the U.S.A. Patriot Act. The bill extended three key parts of the Patriot Act: authorizing “roving wiretaps”; allowing agencies to collect “tangible intelligence” domestically; and the ability to surveil individuas not necessarily affiliated with a known terrorist organization.
Security related bills like this rarely fail and it was a surprise to GOP leadership that they didn’t have the votes to pass the bill. It was the first time that Tea Party Republicans showed their sway in the House.
Takeaway Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich reports. Louise Story, Wall Street and finance reporter for The New York Times weighs in on legislation to fight regulations.