1.   Mitchell declined to comment either on his conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, which preceded the larger meeting, or on what his still unfinished bill would embrace.

2.   A pile of unfinished spending bills awaited lawmakers today on the first day of the new fiscal year.

3.   Lott said he hoped a lame-duck session would consider only unfinished spending bills, a tax-cut package and bankruptcy legislation.

4.   Of the eight unfinished spending bills, many are mired in disputes among Republicans.

5.   To give bargainers time, the House and Senate used voice votes to approve legislation keeping agencies covered by the unfinished spending bills open through Friday.