Nation in brief

Bush unveils economic plan

WASHINGTON - President Bush opened a broad campaign for his economic agenda Wednesday, calling for a reduction in "frivolous lawsuits" while his economic team laid out the arguments for overhauling Social Security and the tax code.

"The cost of frivolous lawsuits in some cases make it prohibitively expensive for a small business to stay in business or for a doctor to practice medicine," Bush said. "Those who have been hurt ought to have their day in court. But a judicial system run amok is one that makes it really hard for small businesses to stay in business."

But much of the day was devoted to the public relations campaign to replace part of today's Social Security program with a system of private savings accounts.

Kicking off a televised two-day conference packed with like-minded economists and business executives, Bush's economic team laid out arguments for shifting responsibility from the government to individuals and for borrowing as much as $2-trillion to cover costs.

WASHINGTON - Almost one-fifth of Food and Drug Administration scientists surveyed two years ago as part of an official review said that they had been pressured to recommend approval of a new drug despite reservations.

The survey of almost 400 scientists also found that a majority had significant doubts about the adequacy of federal programs to monitor prescription drugs once they are on the market and that more than a third were not particularly confident of the agency's ability to assess the safety of a drug.

The results of the survey, conducted by the Health and Human Services Department's inspector general, appear to support some portions of the controversial Senate testimony last month by FDA safety officer David Graham. The 20-year agency veteran told senators that the FDA was unable to keep some unsafe drugs off the market, and that scientists who dissented about drug safety and effectiveness were sometimes pressured and intimidated.

NEWARK, N.J. - Baggage screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport spotted - and then lost - a fake bomb planted in luggage by a supervisor during a training exercise.

Despite an hourslong search Tuesday night, the bag made it onto an Amsterdam-bound flight. It was recovered by airport security officials when the flight landed.

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