41.   Public reaction already has caused the power authority to postpone a vote on the Pataki plan.

42.   Republicans said Thursday morning that they thought the bill would squeak through, but then postponed a vote again.

43.   Senate leaders postponed floor votes on a stalled regulatory overhaul bill, allowing Republicans and Democrats to continue trying to forge a compromise.

44.   Separately, the commission postponed a vote on an order that would have created statewide service-quality standards for incumbent telephone companies, including Pacific Bell.

45.   Senate Republicans split over how to cut student loans and twice postponed any votes in the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

46.   Sitting in his office on the day that Clinton ordered air strikes in Iraq, Barr seemed concerned that the Republican leadership might postpone the vote.

47.   So postponing the vote would almost certainly bring about a new governmental crisis.

48.   Tauzin postponed a vote on the measure last week after more than two hours of heated debate.

49.   Such concerns could prompt owners to postpone the vote until their next scheduled meeting in March.

50.   That leaves it up to the speaker, who has said he will not postpone the vote, but has not said which way he will go.