31.   Both are outsiders, Riordan coming to government from the business world and Williams to Los Angeles law enforcement from Philadelphia.

32.   -- Repealing the federal law that prevents state and local governments from regulating tobacco promotion and advertising.

33.   A balanced budget means less borrowing by the government from the pool of national savings.

34.   A bill that would block state and local governments from imposing taxes on the Internet passed the House this week.

35.   A bill that would prevent state and local governments from taxing the Internet for three years passed the House Commerce Committee by a unanimous vote today.

36.   A few dozen Israeli settlers staked out on a West Bank hilltop Tuesday prevented the government from taking down an illegal outpost that had been slated for dismantling.

37.   A Brazilian judge rejected a union request for a court order to block the government from opening the mobile telecommunications industry to competition.

38.   A court Wednesday lifted an order preventing the government from selling the two concessions for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

39.   A municipal bond lobbying group called for reform of municipal bankruptcy laws to prevent governments from reneging on debt payments.

40.   A temporary spending bill that would prevent the government from running out of money at midnight Saturday and also begin Republican budget cuts won House passage today.