Another "little noticed" provision

Remember the little provision sneaked into a bill to give Bush authority to appoint permanent interim US Attorneys without Congressional oversight? That was just one of many "little noticed" provisions in various bills, including the new FISA bill. But, today, we learn of another "little noticed" provision in the Patriot Act giving Gonzales power to push executions and taking the power to review them away from the courts:

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.

And, just how many Democrats voted for that bill?