New Senate Bill Would Legalize Hemp Nationwide as an Agricultural Product

(TIM) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced he will introduce a new bill on Monday that would legalize hemp, a non-psychoactive relative of marijuana, as an agricultural product. The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rand Paul(R-KY). In addition to legalization, the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 would remove the product from the federal government’s schedule of controlled substances, while […]

Senator Rand Paul To Filibuster "Long-Term" Surveillance Extension

Authored by Mike Shedlock via www.themaven.net/mishtalk,

A program that allows gov"t to collect data without a warrant expires this year. Paul opposes a "long-term" extension.

Senator Rand Paul is taking a partial stand against warrantless searches.

I will actively oppose and filibuster any long term extension of warrantless searches of American citizens

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 20, 2017

The Hill reports Rand Paul Threatens to Filibuster Long-Term Surveillance Extension.

The House Rules Committee on Tuesday released a draft bill that would reauthorize the program. Privacy-minded lawmakers have already criticized the bill as doing little to reform 702.

 

“This bill is an eleventh-hour attempt to sneak an unchecked warrantless surveillance program through Congress,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said in a statement Wednesday morning.

 

“The legislation posted late yesterday is a clear step backward for Americans’ rights. It does nothing to check the warrantless backdoor searches of Americans’ communications,” Wyden added.

 

“The bill also fails to codify the current prohibition on ‘abouts’ collection, in which communications entirely among innocent Americans can be swept up if they reference a target’s email address.”

 

There have been rumblings on Capitol Hill that lawmakers could try to include language in must-pass spending legislation to extend the controversial program. On Tuesday, Paul and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said they would oppose any spending bill that included a permanent reauthorization of the provision, according to the Washington Examiner.

Dear Senator Paul, I have a question:

Dear @RandPaul what does "long-term" have to do with anything. Something is either right or wrong. Why is short-term acceptable? https://t.co/wanpkKyZCb

— Mike Mish Shedlock (@MishGEA) December 20, 2017

 

Fed Gov’t Just Admitted It Will Continue Warrantless Spying—Even If Congress Votes to Stop It

U.S. officials admit they are not planning on shutting down the government"s warrantless spying program, even if it is not reauthorized by 2018.

Mnuchin Hearing Descends Into Early Chaos After Senator Offers "Valium" To Colleague

Earlier this morning we predicted a fiery confirmation hearing for Trump"s Treasury Secretary pick, Steven Mnuchin.  And right on cue, the confirmation had barely begun when it was promptly derailed after Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas suggested that his colleague, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), should pop a valium before the next round of questioning.

“Sen. Wyden, I’ve got a Valium pill here that you might want to take before the second round....just a suggestion, sir."

Of course, the comment didn"t go over well with Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee as Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) pounced on the remarks sending the hearing into a moment of pure chaos with Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) struggling to regain control.

“I just can’t quite believe that the senator would say that.  I just hope that doesn’t set the tone for 2017.”

.@SenPatRoberts to @RonWyden: “I’ve got a Valium pill here that you might want to take…" pic.twitter.com/GO6661dv3Y

— CSPAN (@cspan) January 19, 2017