From the LA Times:
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is putting the final touches on regulations that could give Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales important new sway over death penalty cases in California and other states, including the power to shorten the time that death row inmates have to appeal convictions to federal courts.
The rules implement a little-noticed provision in last year's reauthorization of the Patriot Act that gives the attorney general the power to decide whether individual states are providing adequate counsel for defendants in death penalty cases. The authority has been held by federal judges.
Under the rules now being prepared, if a state requested it and Gonzales agreed, prosecutors could use "fast track" procedures that could shave years off the time that a death row inmate has to appeal to the federal courts after conviction in a state court.
Because our nation will be imperiled if they don't die fast enough?
Of more concern to me, however, is just how often we hear the phrase "Little Noticed Provision" in relation to legislation. Whether its the Energy Bill or the Patriot Act or Medicare or No Child Left Behind, time again we hear this phrase, "little-noticed provision", after the fact, once the ink on the new legislation is dry. I'm sorry, but how does this happen? I understand that often-times the Republicans, when they were the majority, added these provisions behind closed doors or in highly sneaky ways, but isnt this why Senators and Representatives have staff? Shouldnt they have someone reading and rereading these bills to make sure nothing is missed, and at the very least, publicize it, even if they can't stop it?
Worse still, we sometimes hear that our Senators and Representatives didnt even "have time" to read it. Bulls**t. I don't expect a Senator to sit down and read the entire bill, everytime, but I do expect someone on his staff to. Or else for senators to hire someone to read it for them all and report back with anything of concern.
I'm not saying that there was always something we could have done to stop it, but no provision should ever go "Little-Noticed" if it threatens our Rights and Liberties. If it is of concern to us it should be "Loudly Noticed" and condemned. Part of representing us involves being our eyes and ears in Washington, and yes, that means reading the friggin legislation, even if its longer than the Oxford English Dictionary.