DELAVAN, WI (WTAQ) – Governor Scott Walker says fellow Republican Rand Paul did not help his presidential campaign, when he blocked a vote on continuing the government’s bulk collection of domestic phone call records.
Walker, a potential but unannounced presidential hopeful, addressed the subject in Delavan Monday morning. He said voters want a balance between protecting civil liberties and giving intelligence agents the tools they need to fight terrorism.
In a rare Sunday session, Paul forced Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell to go back on his prior opposition to a Patriot Act extension passed by the House last month.
It keeps Americans’ calling records in the hands of the phone companies, while the government can subpoena records for suspected individuals.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on that measure later this week. Walker says he hopes the Senate will soon pass that.
For now, the phone data collection ended late last night — along with two other provisions of the post-9-11 Patriot Act.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
