1.   And other key Senate Republicans are backing the measure as hearings start Tuesday in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

2.   As an influential House Republican announced he was backing the measure--and bringing others with him--President Bush renewed his objections to the bill.

3.   Backing the measure was a smaller, but also diverse, coalition of groups and politicians, each advocating a laundry list of changes.

4.   Backing that measure helped Gov. Pete Wilson rebound in the polls and win re-election that year.

5.   Both measures were backed mostly by Democrats and killed by Republican filibusters.

6.   -- Back a measure that would include sexual orientation as a basis for non-discrimination in employment, except for small businesses and religious institutions.

7.   But aside from Ritter, who is unlikely to run for re-election, few political leaders have backed the measure.

8.   But even the fast-track measures would be backed up by random inspections at the border, Ridge stressed.

9.   Consumer groups and many of the lawmakers who backed the measure said the bill would go the furthest toward preventing future financial meltdowns.

10.   Cuomo, by contrast, has long backed measures for more open and honest government.