1.   But Washington refuses to join them, citing the potential drag on future American economic growth.

2.   In addition to increased debt, economists are concerned about several other potential drags on the U.S. economy.

3.   Others expressed confidence that the Fed would recognize the potential drag from buildups in inventories and move cautiously.

4.   The Asian crisis may also lead the U.S. Federal Reserve to lower interest rates because of the potential drag on the U.S. economy, a Fed governor suggested.

5.   Philip Morris, however, remained a big potential drag on the Dow industrials.

6.   Of more concern to ASEAN members, however, is the potential drag on their economies from the three less developed regional nations.