From eff.org:
San Francisco - Last week, it was widely reported that House Republicans are circulating draft legislation that contains provisions from the never-introduced
"Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003," otherwise known as "PATRIOT II."
The draft legislation is meant to implement intelligence reforms recommended by the 9/11 Commission's final report.
But its reach goes far beyond those recommendations -- including provisions that would allow federal agents to use secret foreign intelligence warrants and wiretap orders against suspects unconnected to any terrorist group or foreign nation.
"The 9/11 Commission's recommendations should not be used as a trojan horse to introduce broad new police powers," says Kevin Bankston, EFF attorney and Equal Jusice Works/Bruce J. Ennis Fellow. "Trying to slip controversial 'PATRIOT II' provisions into the intelligence reform bill needlessly politicizes what has so far been a bipartisan effort to improve the performance of our nation's intelligence-gathering agencies."