WASHINGTON

HOUSE GOP LEADERS SCUTTLE BUDGET-CUT VOTE

House Republican leaders scuttled a vote yesterday on a $51 billion budget-cut package in the face of a revolt by moderate lawmakers over cuts to Medicaid, food stamp, and student loan programs. The episode marked a setback for Republicans on Capitol Hill. They had hoped to use the budget debate to burnish their deficit-cutting credentials with the public and their core political supporters, many of whom are disappointed with their party’s performance on spending.

– Associated Press

SENATE VOTES TO BAR ‘ENEMY COMBATANTS’ FROM U.S. COURTS

The Senate voted yesterday to bar foreign terror suspects at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from filing lawsuits in American courts to challenge their detentions, despite a Supreme Court ruling last year that granted such access.

In a 49-42 vote, senators added the provision to a sweeping defense policy bill. Under the provision, Guantanamo Bay detainees would be allowed to appeal their status as an “enemy combatant” one time, to the Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. But they would not be able to file petitions known as writs of habeas corpus, which are used to fight unlawful detentions, in that or any other U.S. court.

– Associated Press

ROVE DRAWS CHEERS AT FEDERALIST SOCIETY SPEECH

The White House deputy chief of staff and President Bush’s chief political advisor, Karl Rove, told 1,500 guests at the annual meeting of the conservative Federalist Society that judicial overreaching by liberal judges will either correct itself through the influence of conservative judges or drive citizens to push for more constitutional amendments to rein them in.

The introduction of Mr. Rove drew loud applause from the giant crowd at the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. last night. The Federalist Society has become a focus of attention because many of its members have found their way onto the federal courts or into the Bush Administration.

“One of George W. Bush’s greatest contributions as president will be the changes he has brought about in our courts and our legal culture,” Mr. Rove said. “Those changes would have been impossible were it not for the Federalist Society.” The crowd applauded warmly when Mr. Rove introduced the failed Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers and when he predicted that her replacement, Judge Samuel Alito, would be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

WEST

ANTI-LEAK ORDER FILED IN LIBBY CASE

Prosecutors moved yesterday to prevent leaks in the case of a former White House aide, I. Lewis Libby, who faces charges of obstruction of justice and perjury stemming from an investigation into the leak of a CIA employee’s identify.

The special prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, asked Judge Reggie Walton to enter an order prohibiting defense lawyers from divulging the contents of any information turned over by the government, regardless of whether it is classified. The order which has been agreed to by Mr. Libby’s attorneys, would permit the lawyers to use the records for “the legitimate preparation of a defense,” but would bar the use of the so-called discovery materials for any other purpose.

The motion presented to the court yesterday offers no argument or explanation for the proposed order, which is unusually broad even for a criminal case involving classified information. A spokesman for Mr. Fitzgerald declined to discuss the reasons for the motion.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

HEALTH

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER HORMONE THAT SUPPRESSES APPETITE

Scientists have discovered a biological brake for a hunger hormone: a competing hormone that seems to counter the urge to eat. The substance, named obestatin, has been tested just in laboratory rats so far. But if it pans out, the discovery of the dueling hormones could lead not only to a new appetite suppressant, but also help unravel the complex ways that the body regulates weight.

– Associated Press