Burlison Pushes for FISA Reforms, Defends Electoral College in KZRG Interview
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JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison joined the KZRG Morning Newswatch on Friday morning to discuss late-night congressional negotiations on the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and concerns over efforts to bypass the Electoral College.
The Missouri congressman addressed the chaotic overnight session focused on FISA Section 702, which allows intelligence agencies to collect foreign communications but has faced criticism for alleged abuses involving U.S. citizens.
“We’re trying to put guardrails in place,” Burlison said. “If you’re going to search Ted’s emails, you need a warrant.”
He explained that roughly 20 House Republicans blocked a “clean” reauthorization, forcing negotiations over the next two weeks to include stronger Fourth Amendment protections. Burlison argued the intelligence community strongly opposes such limits, describing FISA as a powerful tool that has been misused in the past against political figures, including during the Trump administration.
Burlison noted that while current leadership under President Trump appears more responsible with the program, permanent reforms are needed to prevent future abuses. “You’re never going to hear a government entity come to Congress and say we have way too much power,” he added.
The congressman also weighed in on the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a movement in some Democratic-led states to award all electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, effectively sidestepping the Electoral College.
Burlison called the effort “a really bad idea,” especially when combined with proposals to count non-citizens in the census for apportionment purposes. He warned it would allow large states like California to exert disproportionate influence nationwide, undermining the founders’ intent to protect smaller states from domination by populous ones.“The Electoral College was designed to avoid the abuse of one state,” Burlison said. He stressed that Missouri is not participating in the compact and urged other red states to reject it, preserving the constitutional “firewall” between states.
Burlison’s comments come as the House faces a looming April 20 deadline for FISA reauthorization, with conservatives demanding stronger privacy protections before any extension moves forward.
