Today, the lawmakers of both parties balked at the package.

At the same time, key lawmakers are already balking at borrowing for Katrina.

Other lawmakers have balked at the prospect that the lawyers handling the case for the state are to get up to 15 percent of the proceeds.

The lawmakers have balked at the cost to the Federal Government, estimated at $125 million a year.

That idea, however, has never gained much traction in Congress, in part because lawmakers balk at the notion of helping challengers who want their jobs.

But lawmakers, under pressure from unions and communities that benefit from the hospitals, have balked at closing them.

Jumping the veteran newcomers over current senators could be problematic because lawmakers would probably balk at giving up choice committee seats or chairmanships.

Even some Republican lawmakers are balking.

Mr. Clinton also called for granting legal status to some groups of longtime illegal immigrants, although many lawmakers have balked at that proposal in the past.

But as in Argentina, lawmakers here have balked at the austerity measures the fund wants enacted in return for a $200 million loan.