1.   Peter Jones, a member of the policy and resources committee, said he would propose an amendment to make things easier for the disabled.

2.   Bill sponsor Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, wants an amendment to make program voluntary and nationwide.

3.   But adding any amendments would make the legislative process much more complicated because of deep divisions among banks over what insurance provisions may be acceptable.

4.   But consumer advocates said the amendments hardly made the bill consumer-friendly.

5.   But the amendment does make clear that powers reside at the state level except where the Constitution removes them from that level.

6.   Contained in the bill is an amendment making online distribution of sexually explicit material punishable by prison terms.

7.   Early polling suggests that if the amendment makes it to the ballot, it will win overwhelming support.

8.   Even Democrats who believe that insurers should be allowed to merge with banks said that the amendment would make it harder to pass anything on the House floor.

9.   His proposed amendment also would make an important change in the line of succession into the lieutenant governorship.