National Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

WASHINGTON
SENATE NIXES MINIMUM WAGE BILLS
The Senate torpedoed two bills that would have raised the federal minimum wage, defeating competing amendments introduced to an appropriations bill by Senator Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Senator Enzi, Republican of Nevada.
Both proposals would have inflated the minimum wage to $6.25 from $5.15, but Mr. Enzi’s amendment purported to ease the wage hike’s burden on small businesses by, among other provisions, reducing the number of enterprises subjected to the minimum wage laws and by allowing small businesses to substitute overtime pay with compensatory time off.
While Republicans enjoy a 55-44 majority in the Senate, Mr. Kennedy’s bill, cosponsored by Senator Clinton, was defeated by a vote of 51-47,receiving more support than Mr. Enzi’s, which was defeated 57-42.
– Staff Reporter of the Sun
ROVE, LIBBY TRADED REPORTER INFORMATION BEFORE IDENTITY LEAKED
Top White House aides Karl Rove and I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby discussed their contacts with reporters about an undercover CIA officer in the days before her identity was published, the first known intersection between two central figures in the criminal leak investigation.
Mr. Rove told grand jurors it was possible he first heard in the White House that Valerie Plame, wife of Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson, worked for the CIA from Mr. Libby’s recounting of a conversation with a journalist, according to people familiar with his testimony. They said Mr. Rove testified that his discussions with Mr. Libby before Ms. Plame’s CIA cover was blown were limited to information reporters had passed to them. Some evidence prosecutors have gathered conflicts with Mr. Libby’s account.
– Associated Press
RICE REFUSES TO RULE OUT FORCE AGAINST SYRIA, IRAN
Secretary of State Rice yesterday refused to rule out American troops still serving in Iraq in 10 years or the possibility that America could use military force against neighboring Syria and Iran.
Ms. Rice deferred to the decisions of President Bush and military commanders as members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee pressed her for more specifics on the American strategy in Iraq.
– Associated Press
COURT ISSUES WARRANT FOR DELAY
A state court issued an arrest warrant yesterday for Rep. Tom DeLay, requiring him to appear in Texas for booking on state conspiracy and money-laundering charges. The court set an initial $10,000 bail as a routine step before the Texas Republican’s first court appearance Friday.
Mr. DeLay could be fingerprinted and photographed, although his lawyers had hoped to avoid this step.
– Associated Press
CHERTOFF DEFENDS KATRINA ROLE
Most of FEMA’s problems in dealing with disasters can be fixed with better planning, the Homeland Security secretary, Michael Chertoff, told Congress yesterday. “We are going to be very prepared for Hurricane Wilma,” he said of the storm on the horizon.
Testifying before a special House committee created to probe the slow federal response to Katrina, Mr. Chertoff deflected questions about his own actions by telling lawmakers he had relied on Federal Emergency Management Agency experts with decades of experience in hurricane response.
“I’m not a hurricane expert,” he said repeatedly.
Mr. Chertoff’s appearance came as weather forecasters kept a wary eye on Wilma, which grew into one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record before weakening yesterday.
– Associated Press
SOUTH
MAN ACCUSED IN BUSH ASSASSINATION PLOT DESCRIBES SAUDI TORTURE
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A man accused of joining Al Qaeda angrily testified yesterday that he was whipped and tortured by Saudi interrogators who he said refused his requests to contact the American Embassy.
Ahmed Omar Abu Ali is charged with joining Al Qaeda while attending college in Saudi Arabia and planning several terrorist plots, including assassinating President Bush. His trial is scheduled for later this month.
– Associated Press