While the nation was distracted last month by images of Saddam Hussein’s spider hole and dental exam, President George W. Bush quietly signed into law a new bill that gives the FBI increased surveillance powers and dramatically expands the reach of the USA Patriot Act.
The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 grants the FBI unprecedented power to obtain records from financial institutions without requiring permission from a judge.
A lot of folks are pissed, claiming that the administration signed it on a Saturday (the 13th of Dec.) knowing new coverage would be slight and the announcement of the capture of Saddam would eclipse any other story out there.