11.   The committee votes were preceded in both chambers by impassioned testimony from Florida voters.

12.   The plan was amended during a thoughtful review process that preceded the vote.

13.   The vote was preceded by intense bickering as members of each party accused colleagues across the aisle of striking meaningless poses and putting politics ahead of sound policy.

14.   The vote was preceded by one of the most intense and pricey lobbying campaigns ever to hit City Hall.

15.   What was more interesting was that during the listless debate that preceded the vote, no Democrat bothered to defend the president.

16.   While criticizing the campaign that preceded the vote as decidedly unfair to the opposition, the observers varied in their assessments of the irregularities they saw.

17.   Consultations nailing down details were expected to precede the vote.

18.   Gingrich was attending meetings in his office and did not watch the debate preceding the vote.

19.   Little debate preceded the vote approving the recount.

20.   Little debate preceded the vote on the hand recount.