Spy Program Boosters in Congress Join Calls for Curbs

Fierce defenders of U.S. government surveillance programs are the latest members of Congress to suggest curtailing them, as a push started by Tea Party Republicans and civil libertarian Democrats gains momentum.

Just two months after U.S. contractor Edward Snowden disclosed the nature of the National Security Agency’s collection of phone and Internet records from millions of Americans, a House proposal to defund it came seven votes short of passing July 24. Lawmakers in both parties now say they’re drawing plans to restrict data collection, declassify court orders allowing the spying and change the way the court’s judges are appointed.