Reforming California's conservatorship laws, enacting sweeping protections for seniors and dependent adults facing abuse (Assembly Bill 1363 of 2006).

The Clinton Administration ordered sweeping protections for Medicare beneficiaries today, requiring health plans to guarantee access to specialists, to keep medical records confidential and to provide interpreters when needed.

Senate Republicans today proposed legislation to protect patients' rights, drawing the battle lines with the Democrats, who have sought much more sweeping protections, including the right to sue managed care companies.

Many cities have enacted more sweeping protection.

It would give sweeping protections to hunters, outlawing not only demonstrations against hunting, but also, say opponents (mostly liberals), outlawing speech aimed against hunters.

Nor were they satisfied with increased enforcement and penalties or with the sweeping protections to the water supply of the Highlands.

The measure, which provided sweeping protections for the disabled, was opposed by conservative senators, who argued that it would be onerous to business and provoke a rash of lawsuits.

On a separate issue, Mr. Clinton last week ordered sweeping new protections for Medicare beneficiaries.

Illinois was one of only five states in the nation to pass such sweeping protections.

President Bush authorized sweeping new protections for the privacy of medical records, despite strenuous objections from much of the health care industry.