The Detroit Free Press reports that the Justice Department might become involved in a case between Life for Relief and Development and Comerica Bank. The organization decided to sue Comerica Bank for violating their civil rights in threatening to close the charity's bank accounts. The suite challenges a section of the Patriot Act that allows financial institutions to share information about suspected money laundering or terrorist activity. The Justice Department might now step in to defend the contested part of the Patriot Act.

As previously reported, the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee Senator Leahy plans to increase oversight of government programs, placing a high priority on privacy issues. BNA Money and Politics (subscription required) reported on Leahy's speech at Georgetown University Law Center. There are also plans to create a Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. Leahy was quoted in The New York Times saying, "the White House accelerated its power plays at the expense of the other branches of government — all in the name of fighting terrorism."

In a press conference yesterday, incoming House Speak Nancy Pelosi re-affirmed her commitment to key budget process reforms long-supported by OMB Watch. Among the "First 100 Hours" rules package will be the following reforms:

• EARMARKS: mandatory disclosure of all earmarks and the requirement that members certify that spouses do not directly benefit from the added project
• DEFICIT DISCIPLINE: budget Reconciliations will not be considered if they reduce the budget surplus or increase the deficit

Earlier in the week Roll Call (subscription required) reported that the Federal Elections Commissioned (FEC) was likely to fine some 527 groups involved in the 2004 campaign. Yesterday, the FEC fined three 527 groups, Swift Boat Veterans, the League of Conservation Voters and MoveOn.org’s Voter Fund, after determining that the organizations violated requirements to register as political committees. The groups registered with the IRS as 527s which bars them from express advocacy, but the FEC determined that their large donor funds set involvement in campaign activity as their major function.