WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- An anonymous Republican senator has put a hold on an intelligence spending bill to block two Democratic amendments, the New York Times reports.
The amendments by the two Massachusetts senators, Edward Kennedy and John Kerry, require updates on secret detention sites and on the conditions of prisoners held there and require the executive branch to supply classified documents that have been withheld from Congress.
The bill, which sets policy for spending on intelligence, must now wait until Congress returns from its holiday break.
The Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, D-Nev., called the delay disturbing at a time when good intelligence is needed for the troops.
"Senate Republicans are blocking adoption of the Intelligence Authorization Act," Reid said. "As a result, we are now at risk of not passing this important piece of national security legislation for the first time in 27 years."
