11.  But in recent weeks the level of rancor has escalated in the House to the point where legislative efforts have stalled and in one case, collapsed.

12.  But in the wake of legislative efforts to foster new competition in the telecommunications industry, analysts said such a deal is unlikely to pass regulatory or political muster.

13.  But legislative efforts are already underway to thwart city suits.

14.  But Louis Boccardi, president and chief executive of The Associated Press, cautioned the committee against major legislative efforts.

15.  But several legislative efforts to scrap the current system have failed amid sharp differences over key issues, including whether judges should be elected or appointed by the governor.

16.  But Republican anger over its role in the recount may intensify legislative efforts that were already under way.

17.  But Senator Lois Pines, with support from the American Cancer Society, is leading a legislative effort to add the money to the final budget.

18.  But those legislative efforts tend to be overly prescriptive, and insufficient to address broader questions of access to care.

19.  Deregulation of the industry is not the concern it once was, Luftig said, as some legislative efforts have lost steam.

20.  Environmentalists say they picked up three or four seats in the Senate this year, making it more difficult for such a legislative effort to succeed.