11.   Wellstone, who gave a fiery Senate speech Thursday mocking the notion that cuts in welfare spending were reforms, was unrepentant.

12.   He declined to say how much was being spent on security, but the government has little money.

13.   Republicans want that spending to be significantly lower, leaving more money for the tax cuts favored by many Republicans including GOP presidential contender George W. Bush.

14.   The United States has called on Europe, and Germany in particular, to step up defense spending to be able to meet commitments within NATO.

15.   What are you spending your time doing?

16.   However economists say it will take more time for hefty government spending to be felt, the state-run China Daily reported Friday.

17.   The consensus of Wall Street economists had been for December construction spending to be unchanged.