Bob Corker said it was "troubling" to read the Guardian newspaper's report on the NSA's nationwide roundup of Verizon phone records. The Tennessee Republican claimed to have "no idea" of how much the Obama administration used the Patriot Act to justify collection. Corker later issued a statement calling for "appropriate oversight and protections for the civil liberties of innocent Americans."

Great outrage Senator...Except that you blocked amendments to rein in the NSA.

Senate Democrats say the former Chattanooga mayor had his chance in December, when he opposed several amendments that would have strengthened protections of civil liberties and privacy...

One would have declassified rulings of the secret court that allowed the government's blanket seizure of Verizon records.

Another would have compelled intelligence agencies to notify Congress whenever American communications were picked up during surveillance.

A third amendment would have reauthorized the bill for only three years instead of five, and a fourth would have required the government to get a warrant when seeking electronic information held by third parties.

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