702 FISA renewal barely clears cloture in Senate

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A hotly debated surveillance bill Tuesday night moved one step closer to a final vote, barely clearing a key procedural Senate hurdle despite bipartisan opposition that nearly scuttled the vote.

The 60-38 vote to invoke cloture on the legislation — which would extend the powerful spying tools authorized under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — moves to limit debate over the proposal and sets up lawmakers for a final vote Wednesday or Thursday.

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The vote, which started around 5:45 p.m., dragged on for over an hour, a rarity in the Senate, before stalling at 58-38. Ultimately, both sides’ hopes rested on Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and John Kennedy (R-La.).

“I don’t like the fact that we’re not allowed to consider amendments,” Kennedy told reporters after the vote. “I don’t like that at all.”

The two lawmakers shuffled between a huddled group of 702 critics — which included Wyden, Paul and libertarian-leaning Republicans Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah — and GOP leadership. For an extended period of time, McConnell stood alone, watching while the two holdouts discussed the issue with their colleagues.

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