Senate Democrats Block Fisa 702 as 60-Vote Test Fails

Senate Democrats block fisa 702 after nearly every Senate Democrat and six Senate Republicans stopped the chamber from taking one more step toward reauthorizing the surveillance law in the early hours of Friday morning. The procedural hurdle failed as the deadline to act next week drew closer, leaving the reauthorization effort dependent on Democratic votes.

John Thune and the 60-vote hurdle

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Congress could not “afford to go dark” by not reauthorizing FISA. He also said he needed Democratic help and hoped Democrats could have a change of heart when the upper chamber returns next week.

Thune added, “We need some help from Democrats, obviously, and I think it's a terrible irresponsible position that they've taken,” after the setback. The failed procedural vote showed the bill could not clear the 60-vote threshold without Democratic support, even though some Republicans backed it.

Mark Warner on Pulte

Sen. Mark Warner, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Democrats would not support reauthorizing FISA if Bill Pulte were in charge. Warner said, “I don't see how you get the necessary Democrat votes… that would get them to 60,” linking the vote to the White House decision to tap Pulte earlier this week.

President Donald Trump chose Pulte, who currently serves as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to fill in for ex-DNI Tulsi Gabbard after she exited the position last month. Lawmakers have raised concerns that Pulte has no experience in the intelligence field, while the Director of National Intelligence would oversee the country’s 18 intelligence agencies.

Next week in the Senate

The failed vote left the reauthorization effort exposed as the deadline to act approaches next week. The result means Senate Democrats remain central to passage, and the chamber will need them if Republicans cannot keep the coalition together on FISA.