Paul, Reid Run Circles Around Each Other on PATRIOT Act

Demands by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) for amendment votes on the USA PATRIOT Act reauthorization legislation are threatening to derail the extension.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, seeking to circumvent Paul’s opposition, used parliamentary tactics on Tuesday evening in an effort to save time and pass the extension before some of the law’s provisions expire on Friday. But it remains unclear whether the Nevada Democrat will be successful.

In order to meet the deadline, the bill must pass in the Senate and House and be enrolled by Wednesday night, after which it must be flown and delivered to President Barack Obama in Paris for his signature no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday. Obama is on a trip through Europe.

Paul and Reid could not reach an agreement on amendments on Tuesday, leading the freshman Republican to delay a vote on a key procedural motion, which in turn threatened to push the vote on the reauthorization beyond the expiration deadline. Paul spent all day on the Senate floor to prevent a unanimous consent agreement from being reached to move up the procedural vote and the vote on final passage.

Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/rand_paul_harry_reid_patriot_act-205932-1.html?pos=hbtxt

Where Reid has to resort to sneaky tactics to pass a horrible bill being stalled by Rand Paul. It boggles the mind.

Paul is defending the Constitution, you know something's rotten in the state of Denmark.

And yes, it is a very sad thing to see Democrats fighting for Bush's horrible violations of civila liberties.

Glad they're not wasting a moment bringing "change" to our former Constitutional rights!

this constitution canceling act is a lone republican.

Nevertheless, I'm glad to see Sen. Paul pull his head out of his every once in a while.

the democrats should not even be looking at it

I called both of my senators and told them not to vote for it