As Mr. Finnegan and his legislative allies continue to discuss the language of the death penalty bill, opponents are divided over how best to attack it.

Patton was able to distribute this surplus to legislative allies, giving him substantial leverage for his proposals.

We knew we had alienated a wide assortment of health care industry experts and professionals, as well as some of our own legislative allies.

"You do the best you can in forecasting these numbers, but you're going to be wrong," said Mr. Junell, a legislative ally of the governor's.

Insull bitterly counterattacked, often by financing legislative allies.

They could also limit his ability to campaign for legislative allies who face re-election this year.

Most state legislatures mark their final hours by passing hundreds of pages of laws only special interests and their legislative allies read and understand.

Though Mr. Bush never took a position on the politically sensitive bill, Democrats blamed his legislative allies for killing it.

Governor McGreevey, trying to secure enough votes to push his budget through, was looking for legislative allies.

Fulco regarded himself as a special legislative ally of fire fighters, educators and police officers.