Senate renews surveillance law that collects email from an unknown number of Americans

The House has already approved a six-year extension of the law, and the legislation is expected to be signed by President Trump. WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Thursday to renew for six years a surveillance program that collects the content of an unknown number of Americans' email, text messages, photos and other electronic communication without a warrant.

Civil libertarian(ish) groups cry foul over FISA reauthorization

Civil libertarian groups on both sides of the aisle aren't happy with the House's approval of the new FISA authorization. FreedomWorks heaped loads of criticism on the House, with Vice President of Legislative Affairs Jason Pye saying the Constitution doesn't matter to supporters.

UPDATE 6-U.S. House passes NSA spying bill after Trump tweets cause confusion

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to renew the National Security Agency's warrantless internet surveillance program, overcoming objections from privacy advocates and confusion prompted by morning tweets from President Donald Trump that initially questioned the spying tool. The legislation, which passed 256-164 and split party lines, is the culmination of a yearslong debate in Congress on the proper scope of U.S. intelligence collection - one fueled by the 2013 disclosures of classified surveillance secrets by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

US suspends $ 255 million military aid to Pakistan

Washington: The United States has suspended its $ 255 million military aid to Pakistan for now, the White House has confirmed, saying the fate of such assistance will depend on Islamabad's response to terrorism on its soil. The confirmation comes on the same day when US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for $ 33 billion aid over the last 15 years.

Is criminal justice reform really “poised to take off in 2018”?

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this lengthy Washington Examiner article headlined "Criminal justice reform poised to take off in 2018." Here are excerpts: Criminal justice reform came back with such renewed energy this year after sputtering out in Congress in 2016 that meaningful bipartisan legislation is poised for success in 2018.

What were the top Kentucky stories of 2017?

"Everyone I spoke to was shocked and had never heard of anything like this," said Amy Robertson, who works for the Shelbyville Public Defender's office. "Everyone I spoke to was shocked and had never heard of anything like this," said Amy Robertson, who works for the Shelbyville Public Defender's office.

Senator Rand Paul Celebrates Festivus With ‘The Airing of Grievances’

Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is celebrating Festivus, the fictional non-commercial holiday popularized by TV's Seinfeld . As required by tradition, Paul is doing an online "airing of grievances" about government waste, Washington politics, and a certain White House occupant with a penchant for tweeting.

Rand Paul pokes fun at Donald Trump, fellow lawmakers in annual Festivus tradition

Sen. Rand Paul , Kentucky Republican, took aim at targets including President Trump's Twitter habit and wasteful federal spending during his "airing of grievances" Saturday, an annual Twitter tradition inspired by the quirky Festivus holiday at the center of a 1997 "Seinfeld" episode. Festivus is celebrated every Dec. 23 with a plain aluminum pole and activities including a "Feats of Strength" wrestling match and the "Airing of Grievances," according to Seinfeld lore.

After Tax Cuts, Whata s Next on the GOPa s Agenda?Republicans want to…

Just days before the end of the year, congressional Republicans finally handed President Trump his first major legislative victory. But their effort to pass an unpopular and incoherent tax bill left them with little time to address many other pressing concerns.

Rand Paul Hires Personal Injury Lawyer Over Neighbor Attack

Senator Rand Paul has been a colorful and often controversial character for all of his political career, a reputation that was even partially set up for him at a young age thanks to his father Ron Paul, an equally flamboyant character. So, when news reports began trickling in that Senator Rand had apparently been attacked by his neighbor all kinds of theories were flying around about how the attack could be related to his political positions.

How all but one Republican senator found a way to pass tax reform

It's something that seemed up in the air less than 24 hours before the vote, unlikely just a few months ago and completely unfathomable despite bold claims to the contrary midway through President Donald Trump's first year in office. Yet the Republican-controlled US Senate, by a vote of 51-49, early Saturday morning passed a historic overhaul of the US tax code, clearing what has long been considered the largest and most byzantine hurdle in an effort that hasn't been completed in more than 31 years.

Senators consider automatic tax hikes if federal revenue falls short

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER and MARCY GORDON Associated Press WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans are considering a trigger that would automatically increase taxes if their sweeping legislation fails to generate as much revenue as they expect.

Debt and Higher Taxes for Our Grandchildren

Should the government borrow against the future? Should it guarantee higher taxes for your children and grandchildren in return for lower taxes for you? If government's moral legitimacy depends on the consent of the governed, as Thomas Jefferson argued in the Declaration of Independence, can the federal government morally compel those who haven't consented to its financial profligacy - because they are not yet born - to pay higher taxes? These questions are at the base of the debate - such as it is - in Congress these days over the so-called Republican tax reform plan.

No victory dance yet for Trump on tax bill

When the GOP House voted to repeal Obamacare in May, President Donald Trump invited supporters to the Rose Garden to celebrate with him and to pat themselves on the back for making history in record time. Thursday, when Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act there was no talk of orchestrating a public victory lap.

Mixed signals sent on fate of tax bill’s health provision

Two of President Donald Trump's top economic advisers sent mixed signals Sunday on the fate of a health care provision in the Senate version of a $1.5 trillion measure to overhaul business and personal income taxes that is expected to be voted on after Thanksgiving. The provision to repeal a requirement that everyone in the U.S. have insurance has emerged as a major sticking point for Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who has said that issue should be dealt with separately from the push by Trump and fellow Republicans to overhaul the tax code.