As 2012 came to a close, Congress reauthorized the FISA Amendments Act (FAA) for another 5 years. Yes, the same FAA under which the government conducted unconstitutional surveillance; the same FAA for which the government refuses to estimate the number of Americans who have been spied on; and yes, the same FAA that has been interpreted in substantial ways within secret court opinions.
However, in the debate leading up to the reauthorization, Senator Jeff Merkley sponsored a straightforward amendment, with bipartisan support, that would have provided the public with a greater understanding of the FAA and the government's interpretations of the law. Here's a picture of the Senator, with a not-so-subtle visual aid describing the effect his amendment would have.
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