1.   Aside from the tax bill, lawmakers and administration officials said major differences over education and immigration policies still stalled final action on two major spending measures.

2.   Action also stalled until Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican, got the White House to revisit a plan to protect endangered sea lions.

3.   But attempts to first get to the education bill have stalled action on other legislation.

4.   But calls for immediate foreign intervention foundered on resistance from the United States, which on Friday stalled Security Council action on a military mission.

5.   But now the Democratic majority in the Assembly, with an eye on the same election, is trying to stall action.

6.   By stalling action on a new inspection system, they could indefinitely postpone any resolution of the Iraq crisis.

7.   Democrats have stalled action on that measure by introducing dozens of amendments intended to restore programs for the poor.

8.   In the House, spats over a host of unrelated issues stalled action on the spending bill for a day.

9.   It is a pattern that is becoming familiar in this Congress, in which a combination of partisan maneuvering and parochial interests have stalled much action.

10.   Irritated that Gramm has stalled action on judges from his state, Durbin has counterattacked by holding up action on a number of Senate bills.