Nation briefs 01/06/03

Daschle says he's leaning toward presidential run

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle said Sunday he's strongly considering a run for president in 2004, joining a growing field of potential candidates.

"I think it's fair to say I'm leaning in the direction of offering my candidacy for president," Daschle said after a meeting with constituents this weekend.

He spent the weekend talking with supporters in Rapid City, Aberdeen and Sioux Falls. He said an announcement on an exploratory committee is likely "in the next couple of weeks."

Daschle said if he runs, he'd stay on as Democratic leader. "I think that our caucus needs that stability and my expectation is that I would be leader for the foreseeable future."

Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina have joined outgoing Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in forming exploratory committees. Rep. Richard Gephardt announced this weekend he will form an exploratory committee today. And Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut is expected to announce he will run soon.

Airport concourses cleared due to sleeping screener

SEATAC, Wash. -- Four of the five concourses at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport were evacuated Sunday, delaying thousands of post-holiday travelers, because a security screener fell asleep at his post.

Security personnel checked the concourses, some with explosive-sniffing dogs, said Bob Blunk, Transportation Security Administration director for the airport.

"There's no indication anything happened. It's just that somebody fell asleep," airport spokesman Bob Parker said.

The screener, discovered napping at about 6 a.m., apparently was asleep for eight to 30 minutes, Parker said. The concourses were reopened about 8:10 a.m.

GE employees say they'll strike over health costs

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Thousands of General Electric Co. employees vow to soon strike to protest rising health insurance payments. It would be the conglomerate's first national strike in more than 30 years.

GE said the strike would involve about 17,500 employees at the company's manufacturing plants. Officials say it could involve at least 20,000 workers.

Employees are protesting GE's decision to increase co-payments for health insurance Jan. 1. GE says the increases would cost the average employee about $200 a year and follow sharply rising health care costs.

The last national strike by GE employees was in 1969 when workers were off the job for about 14 weeks. This time, the strike is expected to be much shorter, of a week or less, union officials said.

The strike is expected to begin later this month or in early February, union officials said.

Committee chair confirms Lott will take his place

WASHINGTON -- The Senate's No. 3 Republican, Rick Santorum, confirmed on Sunday that he was stepping aside as a committee chairman in favor of ousted GOP leader Trent Lott.

"One of the things I believe very strongly is that we need to put our best team on the field," said Santorum, R-Pa.

Santorum, recently elected to a second term as GOP conference chairman, pointed to his other Senate duties as well as Lott's institutional experience in explaining his decision to let Lott take over as chairman of the Rules and Administration Committee.

The committee controls the assignment and administration of prized office space on the Senate side of the Capitol and resolves disputes on Senate rules and procedures.

Six killed in Texas home invasion

EDINBURG, Texas -- Six men were shot to death early Sunday in a home invasion, police said.

Police said they believe the assailants were searching for weapons and drugs.

A witness, who was tied up during the shooting, told authorities that one of the assailants wore clothing with the word "police" on it.

Five of the victims were found in one house; another was found in a second house on the same property, Sgt. Rey Ramirez said. He said no arrests had been made.

-- From wire reports