Nation briefs 11/20/03

Front-runners bow out of public financing funds

WASHINGTON -- President Bush, Howard Dean and John Kerry have turned away assistance from taxpayers who check a box on their returns, leaving the "matching funds" to be distributed among the five other presidential candidates. Under the program set up after Watergate to reduce the influence of big money in presidential elections, the government matches up to $250 of every private donation qualified candidates collect for their primary campaigns.

Limbaugh denies money laundering for painkillers

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- An anonymous law enforcement source said Wednesday that authorities are investigating whether Rush Limbaugh illegally funneled money to buy prescription painkillers. On his third day back on the air after rehab, Limbaugh responded with a blanket denial, saying "I was not laundering money. I was withdrawing money for crying out loud."

Trade commission taking debt company to court WASHINGTON -- The Federal Trade Commission is suing consumer debt reduction company AmeriDebt, claiming the company works to make money for affiliated for-profit companies at the expense of its debt-laden customers. The lawsuit also states that AmeriDebt falsely promotes itself as a nonprofit organization.

Senate gets educated on food terrorism threat

WASHINGTON -- Food and agriculture experts told the Senate on Wednesday that more attention should be focused on securing the country's food supply and livestock because a handkerchief full of toxin sprinkled at a livestock show could quickly and effectively spread disease and panic. The result, senators and experts agreed, could be devastating to the American economy since food production accounts for about 10 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.

Gay-marriage opponents push constitution change

BOSTON -- After Tuesday's ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Gov. Mitt Romney and other state lawmakers vowed Wednesday to push for a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex unions. An amendment could go before voters by 2006, but legislators also have the option of rewriting state marriage laws in accordance with the court's ruling or allowing same-sex civil unions as a compromise.

House places restrictions on transport of big catsWASHINGTON -- Designed to curtail irresponsible ownership of big cats, which can be purchased over the Internet for a few hundred dollars, the House on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill banning interstate sale and transport of lions, tigers and other big cats. The Senate has passed a similar legislation. Both bills exempt licensed zoos, sanctuaries, circuses and animal trainers.

Negotiators create free trade area for Americas

MIAMI -- Trade negotiators from throughout the Americas approved a draft Wednesday creating the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the world's largest free trade region. The draft will be debated today and Friday. Final approval will be made after negotiators return the finalized draft to their respective governments for review.

Insurer pays $20 million in cancer patient suit

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Central States Health and Life Co. of Omaha Neb., will pay $20 million to settle claims it sold supplemental cancer insurance to people nationwide but tailored its interpretation of the insurance so narrowly that most treatment costs were not covered. In one case the company refused to cover the cost of dose calculations and lead blocks needed during radiation therapy, but paid the cost of using the radiation machine.

Illinois lawmakers make changes to death penalty

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois House voted unanimously Wednesday to enact historic changes to a death penalty system that has led to the wrongful conviction of 17 men. The Senate acted earlier this month, so the changes become law immediately. They include giving the Supreme Court greater power to toss out unjust verdicts, letting defendants have more access to evidence and barring the death penalty in cases that depend on a single witness. The action was an override of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto of the bill.

-- From wire reports