21.   Democrats contend Republicans killed the bill as a political move to prevent Democrats from receiving any public credit for reforming Congress.

22.   Democrats contend that Bush wants it both ways by saying that he has a plan without giving any specifics that could be criticized.

23.   Democrats contend that it was a shell organization, created to funnel foreign funds, and note that it was eventually denied tax-exempt status by the IRS.

24.   Democrats contend that now is the time to press the Republicans, while they want to complete work on the budget and go home to campaign.

25.   Democrats contend that the fight is not about whether to scale back federal spending but about how to do it.

26.   Democrats contend that the GOP would slash Medicare to make way for a capital gains tax cut for the wealthy.

27.   Democrats contend that the idea is unconstitutional.

28.   Democrats contend that the transcript of the call shows that Gingrich, contrary to what his lawyer had promised the ethics committee, was orchestrating his defense.

29.   Democrats contend that those business ties made him ineligible to serve because of laws designed to eliminate conflicts of interests between state utility regulators and the companies they oversee.

30.   Democrats also contended that if the amendment ever became law, it would lead Congress to avoid passing difficult appropriations bills.