Chief sponsors of the USA Freedom Act proclaimed on Sunday that they have the votes to pass that bill.

But the last-minute coalescing might be too late as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, vowed Saturday to „force the expiration of the (National Security Agency) illegal spy program“ and Senate rules make it all but certain that he will succeed if he follows through on his pledge.

„This is a debate over your right to be left alone,“ Paul said on the Senate floor on Sunday.