71.   Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle plans to introduce his own targeted capital gains tax cut for farmers and small-business owners later this month.

72.   Senate Democratic leaders complained that the budget relied on gimmicks, like a proposal to sell all or part of the state lottery.

73.   Senate Democratic leaders have decided to force a showdown on raising the federal minimum wage by attaching the measure to every possible bill on the Senate floor.

74.   Senate Democratic leaders stayed away from the floor, rather than encourage Feingold and Levin to carry on.

75.   Senate Democratic leaders, eager to pass their own bill, must compromise, even if it means offending trial lawyer groups.

76.   Senate leader John Burton ended it with expletives and a collective middle finger from the upper house extended toward Gov. Gray Davis.

77.   Senate leaders also eased the way to a final vote by approving an amendment offered by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.

78.   Senate leaders also maneuvered Wednesday to restore some of the proposed Medicaid cutbacks in their bill, but it was unclear whether Massachusetts would benefit from that change.

79.   Senate leaders are balking, claiming there is no need to rush a fix.

80.   Senate leaders are hoping to fashion a compromise with the House that will allow some gun-control measures to remain in the final bill.