Conn.’s Blumenthal to seek robust privacy advocate

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal says he will continue to seek a robust and independent advocate to argue against the government in the secret federal surveillance court under plans to reform some U.S. surveillance practices ordered by President Barack Obama.

Blumenthal says Obama’s proposals are bold and courageous, including an emphasis on reforming the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court process.

Still, the Democratic senator says Obama’s reform blueprint leaves a lot of work for the U.S. Congress to provide precision and details that will enable effective intelligence but prevent government overreach in collecting telephone data or other surveillance.

Blumenthal is a member of a bipartisan group of senators who announced plans in September for a bill to overhaul the secret federal surveillance court, allow constitutional challenges and create an advocate to argue against the government.