1.   A controversial amendment to allow banks to also affiliate with insurance companies was withdrawn by its sponsor, Rep. Richard Baker, R-La.

2.   Business groups, who feared a stampede to expensive, popular additions, were among the most effective advocates of resisting all controversial amendments.

3.   But opponents are threatening to block it by attaching several controversial amendments.

4.   Democrats maintained the Republican leadership simply had no appetite for a hate crimes bill and were threatening to attach dozens of controversial amendments on such issues as abortion.

5.   For example, Hyde has proposed one particularly controversial amendment that imposes new federal prohibitions on pornographic and violent material to which children have access.

6.   He is in a strategic position to insist that the controversial amendments are removed or retained.

7.   House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a controversial amendment to the minimum wage bill, despite the threat of a presidential veto and a revolt by House Democrats.

8.   However, House lawmakers were tied up with a controversial constitutional amendment that would prohibit desecration of the U.S. flag.

9.   More controversial amendments remain.

10.   Panel members agreed to delay a string of controversial amendments until the bill comes to a floor vote next week.