21.   In the House, for example, members last year passed a resolution indicating strong support for a hate crimes bill.

22.   In Montana, a bill to add sexual orientation to an existing hate crime bill died in committee last week.

23.   In the Senate, Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is a co-sponsor of the hate crimes bill.

24.   In the end, a hate crime bill that six weeks ago seemed destined for passage died in the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.

25.   Last year, Bush said he opposed including sexual orientation in a hate crimes bill the Texas Legislature was considering.

26.   Later Monday in Albany, Lazio took up other policy questions, declaring his support for the hate crimes bill that the State Senate passed last week.

27.   Monday morning, the hate crimes bill passed the Democratic-controlled state House, setting up another showdown in the Republican-controlled state Senate.

28.   On Monday, Lazio met with Senate Republicans in Albany, declaring his support for the hate crimes bill.

29.   Supporters vowed to fight on, and majority leader Tom Daschle, D- S.D., promised to bring the hate crimes bill to the Senate again within weeks.

30.   The hate crime bill the New York Legislature passed this month follows this latter model, as does the federal bill that cleared the Senate last week.