Patriot Act II

One sequel that's not receiving much media attention is the "Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003," a follow up to the "USA Patriot Act of 2001." The Center for Public Integrity obtained a copy of the draft legislation that had been secretly prepared by the Justice Department. "This proposed law would give the government breathtaking new powers to further increase domestic intelligence-gathering, surveillance and law enforcement prerogatives, and simultaneously decrease judicial review and public access to information," writes the Center, who has posted the document on their website. "Despite the draft legislation's authoritarian provisions -- including one that would empower the government to strip Americans of their citizenship if they participate in the lawful activities of any group that the attorney general labels 'terrorist' -- mainstream U.S. media have responded with only a handful of news stories," Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting writes.