11.   Lobbyists for the polluters have been allowed to write their own loopholes into bills to weaken laws that protect the health and safety of our children.

12.   Nickles said the Senate would not seriously consider proposals that weakened the law.

13.   Northwest Republicans are working hard to weaken the law.

14.   Opponents argued that the bill will make it easier to challenge restrictions on land use and will weaken environmental laws.

15.   One danger is that the district attorneys, most of whom oppose weakening the law, will stop charging people with the lesser offenses.

16.   Prosecutors say the bill would significantly weaken federal laws prohibiting kickbacks, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid.

17.   Speer wanted the law weakened.

18.   Supervisor Tom Ammiano, a co-sponsor of the ordinance, opposes the proposal, saying it would weaken the law.

19.   That has not persuaded some drug-policy experts, who said Soros had given money not for debate, but to weaken drug laws.

20.   The bill dealt with gun shows but would have weakened existing laws governing background checks.