Andy, don’t get me wrong As I hope I made clear, I support the Patriot Act, despite its flaws. Nevertheless, in principle, if legislation is brought in because of an emergency it seems very modest indeed to suggest that that legislation should be subject to the special scrutiny that a sunset clause entails every few years. If the terrorist threat is present in four or five years (as I fear it will be), then renew the legislation again.

Remember, government does not typically give up any new powers with any degree of enthusiasm. A sunset clause is a useful device to make the state periodically justify the extent of what it has taken and is something, I would argue, that should be extended to more legislation, not less.