NYTimes News

Libertarians Join Liberals in Challenging Sodomy Law

The constitutional challenge to the Texas "homosexual conduct" law that the Supreme Court will take up next week has galvanized not only traditional gay rights and civil rights organizations, but also libertarian groups that see the case as a chance to deliver their own message to the justices.


Republicans Resigned to Defeat on Alaska Wildlife Refuge Drilling Plan

Senate Republican officials concede that they don't have the votes for the Bush - Cheney - Enron energy plan.

Republicans Also Say They'll Push for Tax Cuts Regardless of War


And lastly - A Pervasive Dismay on the Bush School Law

How do you defend a law that is likely to result in 85 percent of public schools in America being labeled failing — based on a single test score?

How do you defend a law demanding that schools have 100 percent of their children reaching proficiency on state tests in the next decade.

And how do you defend a law that gives the federal government unprecedented control over "failing" schools — that tells local school boards when they must fire their principals and teachers — even though it pays a small fraction (7 percent) of public education costs?

The law authorized for $7 billion in federal funding this year to meet its goals. Bush funded only $1 billion. His funding on education after his promises the first year ended his bipartisan relations in Congress.