Indeed, when the Pentagon originally asked for $2.6 billion to buy C-130J's, lawmakers authorized $4 billion.

In response to those problems, lawmakers last July authorized a budget this year of $776 million, 77 percent more than its budget in the previous year.

Would there be three Catskill casinos, which lawmakers authorized four years ago?

Only two months ago, HUD negotiators had thought they might persuade lawmakers to authorize 15,000 new vouchers.

The measure would allow lawmakers to authorize telephone betting on live or simulcast harness horse races.

The staff member said lawmakers would authorize "a reasonable number" of new vouchers in President Clinton's 2000 budget request.

The lawmakers had authorized $275,000 two years earlier to demolish the remains of City Hospital, the operating corporation said, but the contractor's estimate was $600,000.

Republicans had just taken control of both houses of Congress, and lawmakers had several months earlier authorized Mr. Bush to use force against Iraq.

Meanwhile, to prevent production lines from going cold, lawmakers authorized the Pentagon to pay up to $100 million this year to keep dozens of contractors and subcontractors primed for new work.

The developments reflected continued uncertainty in Congress over whether lawmakers should authorize the surveillance program, or seek to rein in an operation that Democrats contend is illegal.