Mood shifting, Congress may move to limit NSA spying The National Security Agency (NSA) building at

[boston bean]

WASHINGTON — Congress is growing increasingly wary of controversial National Security Agency domestic surveillance programs, a concern likely to erupt during legislative debate _ and perhaps prod legislative action _ as early as next week.

Skepticism has been slowly building since last month’s disclosures that the super-secret NSA conducted programs that collected Americans’ telephone data. Dozens of lawmakers are introducing measures to make those programs less secret, and there’s talk of denying funding and refusing to continue authority for the snooping.

The anxiety is a sharp contrast to June’s wait-and-see attitude after Edward Snowden, a government contract worker, leaked highly classified data to the media. The Guardian newspaper of Britain reported one program involved cellphone records. The Guardian, along with The Washington Post, also said another program allowed the government access to the online activity of users at nine Internet companies.

Obama administration officials quickly provided briefings about the programs, and they continue to have strong defenders at the Capitol. “People at the NSA in particular have heard a constant public drumbeat about a laundry list of nefarious things they are alleged to be doing to spy on Americans _ all of them wrong,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said last month. “The misperceptions have been great, yet they keep their heads down and keep working every day to keep us safe.”

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/07/19/197165/mood-shifting-congress-may-move.html#storylink=cpy

[alc]

1. how many members of congress "have nothing to hide"?

The NSA may already be in a position to limit oversight. If they aren't there yet, congress better act now. My guess is that nothing will change and we'll never know if NSA influenced any votes by less-than-legal means or if congress honestly thinks limits aren't necessary and a few figs leaves are enough cover to placate us.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. A few years ago Congress was gung ho with wanting to spy

what has changed their minds?

After 9/11 the general public thought it was the right thing to do and congress would agree to anything that Bush and his cronies wanted.

[woo me with science]

3. Our Constitution was not written to be dependent on "moods."