[snopercod]

the legislation would have given law-enforcement officials the power to compel compliance with administrative subpoenas

Do I understand correctly? The legislation would allow law-enforcement to write and enforce their own subpoenas with no judicial involvement? The U.S. Constitution specifically requires judicial approval of warrents, but I don't believe it mentions subpoenas.

Aren't subpoenas - by definition - judical calls to appear? If so, then we are transferring judicial powers to law enforcement here.

This sounds a lot like a knock at the door at 3AM.

[NJ_gent]

"Do I understand correctly? The legislation would allow law-enforcement to write and enforce their own subpoenas with no judicial involvement?"

Well, National Security letters already allow the Feds to force businesses to secretly divulge every bit of information they have about you without your permission or knowledge. In terms of warrants, the burden of proof in cases where a government agent claims there's a terrorism connection is so low that courts are reduced almost to rubber stamp courts. Take a look at FISA and National Security Letters on google for some very frightening information. Check out 'sneak and peek' for more frightening information. How's this for thinking: while you're at work today, agents of the government can legally enter your home, search your house, place 'bugging' devices on your computer, and photograph everything in sight without having to say a word to you. All that has to happen is someone tells a judge you're a terrorist, are involved with terrorists, or once sent money to a group that we think might be giving aid to terrorists. Think about that one when you walk in the door tonight. I certainly do. Proponents of these laws like to claim that none of this could really happen, that it's not legal, and that folks like me are simply being paranoid. What they cannot do is point out where in the law it says they can't do it, whereas I can point to the parts of the law that say they can. Their claims of this being unrealistic and overblown are tantamount to "trust us".

"This sounds a lot like a knock at the door at 3AM."

That's just it - in many cases, they don't even have to knock.