NSA Phone Program Not Authorized In The Patriot Act

Both President's Bush and Obama have stated that the Phone Program of the NSA was legal. However the appellate court last Thursday ruled that it was never authorized by existing law.

The House Judiciary Committee passed a bill last week that would end the bulk collection of telephone and email records because Section 215 expires on June 1st. The law will be changed so that the government will need to obtain the records they need on a case by case basis

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell {R; KY} says there is no time to debate the schedule, and replace Section 215 before the expiration date. Senate Republicans are concerned that national security could be threatened and congress may push a temporary extension with no changes. Also they are not sure it would pass both the House and the Senate because of broad opposition to the program.

Recently retired NSA Director Gen. Keith Alexander "I am concerned if we throw out some of these programs, now we are at risk." Continuing "We're stupid, I got it, in the press, but we shouldn't put American people at risk."

The argument - That both records are inherently relevant to terrorism probes - has been a central premise of the NSA.

"Such an expansive concept of 'relevance' is unprecedented and unwarranted" the judge wrote.

Ruling by the three judge panel was in response by the ACLU wanting the collection of data stopped stating that it violates Americans privacy rights...The ACLU appealed a lower court judge ruling that the program was constitutional thus leading to today's ruling.

The panel sent the case back to lower court judge for further review based on these findings.

So the continuing controversy continues where does our security and safety begin and where does our privacy end. Was the NSA created to become a huge collection for our cell phone use by the government? And how much data is needed for our protection?

Evidently we have reach the point where the current is swaying saying that too much data is being used and unnecessary for our protection. However with ISIS on the move and entering our borders how does the government protect us without this information. Would we be hindering our government from keeping track of the enemy and opening Americans to be at risk. These are the hard questions being asked.