Nation briefs 7/30/05

Senate votes to shield gunmakers from lawsuits

WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted Friday to shield firearms manufacturers, dealers and importers from lawsuits brought by victims of gun crimes, a measure opponents said had been ordered up by the gun lobby. The 65-31 vote passed a bill that supporters said protects the industry from financial disaster and bankruptcy caused by damage lawsuits. Democrats won inclusion this year of a new requirement that each handgun be sold with a separate child safety or locking device, unless purchased by government officials or police officers.

Police: Four killed in fiery crash in Connectiicut

AVON, Conn.-- A fiery chain-reaction crash that started when a dump truck slammed into a commuter bus killed four people Friday and left four others critically injured, officials said. Authorities had not released the victims' names Friday, but said 15 people were taken to the hospital. Four remained in critical condition. State inspectors last year found five brake violations on the long-bed dump truck, which is owned by American Crushing and Recycling LLC.

Senate clears emergency veterans budget increase

WASHINGTON -- The Senate sent President Bush a $1.5 billion increase to the budget for veterans health-care programs Friday as it cleared the first spending bill for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The move ends an embarrassing episode for the administration, which repeatedly miscalculated the needs of veterans and used outdated budget models when figuring estimates for Congress. The Senate also cleared a $3.8 billion measure funding Congress' own budget.

Roberts' confirmation hearings to begin Sept. 6

WASHINGTON -- Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts will begin the day after Labor Day, but Senate Democrats say the White House must release more documents to ensure he's wearing a justice's black robes before the new term begins in October. President Bush officially nominated Roberts as the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on Friday, and Senate Republicans later announced that confirmation hearings would begin Sept. 6.

White House intends end run around Congress

WASHINGTON -- President Bush intends to announce next week that he is going around Congress to install embattled nominee John Bolton as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, senior administration officials said Friday. Bush has the power to fill vacancies without Senate approval while Congress is in recess. Under the Constitution, a recess appointment during the lawmakers' August break would last until the next session of Congress, in January 2007.

-- From wire reports