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Democracy debate

Nancy Pelosi said yesterday that House Republicans now have become everything they used to rail against when they were in the minority for decades.

She and Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, released a report detailing times Democrats were denied a chance to offer amendments, have an extended debate or even take part in conference committees to work out differences between House and Senate bills.

Mrs. Pelosi said even as President Bush is promoting democracy abroad, House Republicans are "working feverishly to undermine democracy here at home" by using the Rules Committee to restrict the rules for floor debates. Democrats have promoted their "minority bill of rights," a set of procedures they say would make the House operate more fairly.

"I am not all that surprised by the minority leader's comments today. It's the same old song and dance," said House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert of Illinois. "Are Republicans abusing the rules process to stifle debate in the House? To quote Nancy Pelosi, the answer is 'no.'"

Mr. Hastert said of the 15 amendments that have been made during floor debate this year, 11 were sponsored by Democrats.

Sending a message

President Bush's pick of a vocal U.N. critic to be the next U.S. ambassador to the world body was meant to send a message that change is needed there, the White House said yesterday.

Now undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, John R. Bolton was announced Monday as Mr. Bush's choice for the post. He is likely to face a tough Senate confirmation hearing before Democrats, who argue that he has disdained the world body, and Republicans who are wary of him, the Associated Press reports.