Soon City Hall stepped up its criticism over the way the board was handling the search.

But today, leading Democrats stepped up their criticism of the plan.

At the same time, Democrats stepped up their criticism of the president.

He spoke as civil liberties and privacy groups stepped up their criticism of the administration's legislative package.

Foreign governments and international organizations have stepped up their criticism of detainee treatment at Guantánamo.

Conservatives, meanwhile, have stepped up their criticism of the governor for allowing spending to grow sharply over the last six years.

Republicans have begun to step up their criticism of the President's behavior, after days of relative silence.

Major public health organizations today stepped up their criticism of proposals that could give cigarette makers immunity from liability suits.

Shortly thereafter, King began stepping up his criticism of the three largest American automakers.

European nations stepped up their criticism of the United States today.