The BareStory
The U.S. Senate is working to finalize a government funding package to avert a partial shutdown before a Friday deadline. Negotiations have been complicated by a dispute over a provision that would repeal a law allowing senators to seek financial compensation if their phone records were seized during federal investigations.
The House of Representatives previously passed legislation to repeal the measure, which had been inserted into a spending bill last November. The law in question permits certain lawmakers to sue the federal government for damages if their electronic records were seized without prior notification during former special counsel Jack Smith’s probe into the 2020 election. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that the repeal language is expected to remain in the final package.
On Friday, Senator Lindsey Graham outlined conditions to lift his objection to the spending agreement, which had stalled the chamber. Graham demanded votes on three amendments, including a requirement for notification when phone records are subpoenaed and a measure regarding local compliance with federal immigration laws. Graham stated that while he is willing to address the provision allowing for monetary damages, he insists on establishing notification requirements for legislators and private groups whose records are accessed.
Senate leadership is attempting to secure the necessary support to vote on these amendments and advance the funding legislation. The package must be passed quickly to prevent a lapse in government funding.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• You face the potential of a partial government shutdown and a lapse in federal funding if the Senate fails to pass the package before the Friday deadline.
• New privacy protections could require the government to notify private groups and legislators if their phone records are subpoenaed, contingent on the passage of proposed amendments.
• Local policies regarding compliance with federal immigration enforcement could shift if specific measures demanded by Senator Graham are voted upon and included in the final legislation.
• Federal spending rules determining whether lawmakers can sue the government for damages over seized electronic records will be decided by whether the repeal language remains in the final package.
