Without notifying Congress, Attorney General John Ashcroft expanded FBI guidelines to allow agents to spy on people in churches, synagogues and organizations even when there is no evidence of wrongdoing; this hasn't been totally rectified, as of now.  This practice is apparently spreading to police forces, which are generally investigating environmental and political groups.  It's vital that Congress pass legislation early in 2010 that will rein in these abuses of American civil liberties and require that the FBI and police forces act only when they can present clear evidence to a court authority.  I urge Congress to enact this legislation as a first priority in 2010; by starting to work on it now.