Senator blocks renewal of wiretap program authorization

06/15/12: Wired reports the Obama Administration’s desire for Congress to renew the authorization for broad electronic eavesdropping powers was scuttled yesterday when Senator Ron Wyden (D-Or.) stopped the bill because the government refuses to say how often the spy powers are being used.  Wyden has barred the Senate from a routine vote using a little-used legislative power called a hold, demanding a floor debate that can draw out the approval process indefinitely via the filibuster.  The legislation, expiring at year’s end, authorizes the government to electronically eavesdrop on Americans’ phone calls and emails without a warrant so long as one of the parties to the communication is outside the United States “to acquire foreign intelligence information.”  The Senate Intelligence Committee secretly approved the measure May 22 and released those results days ago.