After a judge threw out Prop. Another judge voided a law allowing the president to veto line items in the budget as an improper delegation of congressional power. Conservatives say the overturning of Prop. 209 is the latest example of judicial activism and proposed steps to combat it. Last week, House Judiciary chair Henry Hyde proposed requiring three judges instead of one to review state referenda. And a new private panel including several ex-attorneys general will rate President Clinton's court choices for activist leanings.
Liberals say conservative judges practice activism, too.
An emergency call for the Big Muddy If Lewis and Clark were to return to the wild and mighty Missouri River that frustrated and nearly swallowed up their 1804-06 expedition, they wouldn't recognize today's Big Muddy. Taming the river and its flood plain has put one fifth of the native species of fauna and flora on endangered lists and many fish species have fallen below 10 percent of their historic levels. The Missouri leads a list issued this week by the environmental group American Rivers of the nation's 10 most threatened waterways. Doctors would be asked to decide whether to give the drugs to a man who says his condom broke during sex or someone who used a dirty needle to shoot drugs. Democrats will also examine two Triad-controlled groups that ran attack ads in the waning days of the election.