And beyond campaign contributions, dealers have powerful friends lending a hand in their quest to enact the auto salvage bill. At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the bill last September, the man who represented the National Auto Dealers Association , R.B. Dossett Jr. of Tupelo, Miss., was introduced as a personal friend of Senator Lott. People familiar with the legislation say Lott, who introduced the Senate bill, has been instrumental in steering it through the process. Of the 46 senators that co-signed the bill, several were Democrats who have traditionally received high marks from consumer groups, such as South Dakota's Tom Daschle, Vermont's Patrick Leahy and Illinois' Dick Durbin. Gorton and Lott reportedly agreed last week to lower the 80 percent damage threshold, but they have yet to announce a new number.
Consumer groups are wary as the end of the session approaches.
A new bill would make it cheaper and easier than ever for U.S. arms manufacturers to export military equipment. All letters to the editor are for publication and may be edited for length and clarity.