Washington in brief

Senators talk of regulating cable

Senators said Thursday they will consider new regulations for cable television unless the industry addresses soaring prices and allows consumers more channel choices.

Members of the Senate Commerce Committee said pressure from angry constituents is leading them to look at ways to hold down cable rates and let subscribers choose individual channels rather than packages set by operators.

"This is fair warning: If you don't do something about it, we will," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., addressing cable executives waiting to testify. "There is a point where people will rebel. They're going to holler at us and we're going to take it out on you."

One way to hold down rates, lawmakers said, is for cable companies to let their subscribers pay for individual channels rather than forcing them to buy packages.

"I go down to buy a loaf of bread," said John McCain, R-Ariz. "I don't have to buy broccoli and milk to go with it."

Since Congress deregulated the industry in 1996, cable rates have increased by 53 percent while inflation has risen 19 percent.

Reacting to stern criticism in Congress, the National Park Service sought to dispel notions Thursday that its spending priorities were out of line and that it had muzzled employees who might want to speak out.

"Who's minding the store here? Are you all sort of oblivious to what's going on?" Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., asked Park Service director Fran Mainella.

Mainella said she would immediately halt any more spending for foreign travel and cut 10 percent from domestic travel spending.

She acknowledged that million-dollar projects were getting under way without her consent and said any costing more than $1-million would require approval from her or Interior Secretary Gale Norton.

Republicans and Democrats said they had helped the agency's budget grow steadily the past decade, yet Park Service officials still planned to cut back on services and hours at parks.

A 1993 Republican rule would force House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to temporarily vacate his leadership position if he were indicted in a Texas criminal investigation of state election spending.

The House Republican Conference rule stipulates that members in leadership jobs, committee or subcommittee chairmanships and ranking committee members must step aside if they are indicted on a felony punishable by at least two years in prison.

Some House members have raised the issue after learning of the Texas investigation. DeLay's office said discussions about stepping aside would be speculative.

Prosecutors are examining, in part, whether corporate contributions made to a political action committee formed in 2001 by DeLay ultimately went to GOP state House candidates, in violation of Texas campaign finance laws.

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