Mike Johnson faces revolt from GOP privacy hawks threatening to kill FISA renewal as deadline looms
House GOP leadership is struggling to win over GOP privacy hawks as lawmakers race to extend a powerful government surveillance program ahead of Thursday’s deadline. The House Rules Committee on...
By Fox News · Fox News
House GOP leadership is struggling to win over GOP privacy hawks as lawmakers race to extend a powerful government surveillance program ahead of Thursday’s deadline. The House Rules Committee on Tuesday postponed consideration of a rule teeing up a chamber-wide vote on an extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) as Republicans remain sharply divided over the program. The plan would renew the spy law for three years while enacting new penalties for abuses of FISA searches. The measure, however, stops short of incorporating a warrant requirement desired by GOP privacy hawks, who want the adoption of tougher privacy guardrails. The postponed committee action raises doubts about whether House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can pass an extension of the law before it lapses on April 30. HOUSE VOTE ON 'VERY SIMILAR' SPENDING BILL EXPECTED FRIDAY MORNING, GOP LAWMAKER SAYS The mounting obstacles to passing a FISA renewal in the House could also allow the Senate to act first and force the lower chamber to swallow whatever it passes. The Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on a three-year extension bill later on Tuesday. Democrats on the House Rules Committee blasted Republicans for indefinitely postponing consideration of the measure after punting a previously scheduled Tuesday morning meeting to take up the procedural measure. The panel initially adjourned on Monday evening after an hours-long session to allow for more time for Republicans to reach a deal. "After waiting around all night for Republicans to make a deal — with themselves — on a procedural rule for the week, Democrats showed up to the Rules Committee for an 8 a.m. meeting," Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., wrote on social media. "Unsurprisingly, when we showed up, we were told there is still no deal. "Their chaos is only matched by their incompetence," he added. The stalled rule also delays consideration of a budget blueprint to fund immigration enforcement and a sweepin…