So today Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) proposed an amendment to the big Defense Omnibus spending bill that would basically preclude the NSA from grabbing up the cell phone data of American citizens without some actual justification.
The amendment failed 205-217.
As we are busy telling the American people that the Republican Party is about liberty, freedom and a limited role for the federal government, only 94 Republicans vote for this common-sense amendment and 134 Republicans vote against it. For those curious about the Dems, they voted 111 in favor, and 83 against.
Here is the roll call vote so you can see how your Member of Congress voted.
House Leadership in BOTH parties opposed this amendment. If only seven more Republicans had voted for the amendment it would have passed. Again we manage to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.
In case you are curious about California GOP members — of the 15 Republicans, four voted yes – La Malfa, McClintock, Miller, and Rohrabacher. Ten voted no Calvert, Cook, Denham, Hunter, Issa, McCarthy, McKeon, Nunez, Royce, and Valadeo. Rep. Campbell was absent.
If there is a case to be made to Republicans, and frankly to the American people, that this kind of invasive probing/monitoring of our citizens domestically provides enough of a benefit to offset the obvious unwelcome probe of our government into our personal lives, it is not being made very effectively.
Thank you to those patriots who voted for the Amash Amendment.