Frustration mounts as Rand Paul refuses to accelerate Senate NSA votes

By Mike DeBonis and Ellen Nakashima June 1 at 7:56 PM

The Capitol Hill impasse over federal surveillance powers continued Monday, as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) refused to yield to pressure from the White House and fellow Republicans to step aside and allow the reinstatement of key USA Patriot Act provisions that expired early Monday morning.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) again showed agitation with Paul when he came to the Senate floor Monday afternoon to make a request, requiring unanimous consent, to move up a set of votes scheduled for Tuesday.

“Everyone has had ample opportunity to say their piece at this point,” said McConnell, who has endorsed Paul for president. “Now is the time for action.”

But Paul, as he has done on several occasions in recent weeks, objected: “I think the bill could be made much better with amendments, and if we could come to an arrangement to allow amendments to be voted on, I would be happy to allow my consent.”

That puts the Senate on a path to pass surveillance legislation known as the USA Freedom Act as soon as Tuesday, although pitfalls remain. McConnell has set up votes on three amendments, the passage of any of which would send the bill back to the House, where its fate would be uncertain.

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