71.   Still, many investors contend that economic torpor and prospects for Fed rate cuts matter more than the outcome of the budget debate in Washington.

72.   Still, many investors contend that tepid economic growth and prospects for Fed rate cuts matter more than the outcome of the budget debate in Washington.

73.   Some lawmakers say they hope the budget debate will pressure Bush to scale back his proposed cut in the income tax rate for the most affluent.

74.   Such a default would be unprecedented in U.S. history, although the Federal government closed certain operations to avoid surpassing its debt limit during previous budget debates.

75.   That issue, however, has been swept up in the mammoth budget debate.

76.   That is the sort of chess game, Collender said Wednesday, that will probably persist throughout the autumn budget debate.

77.   The budget debate is likely to intensify again next week.

78.   The budget debate, which has dominated Mexican politics all fall, was without recent precedent because for seven decades every Congress has been controlled by the president.

79.   The budget debate is not expected to end before the end of May.

80.   The Assembly planned to return Tuesday to the budget debate.