Business gets murky with IDB; an American business executive claims his company was subjected to shady bank procurement practices during a consulting contract financed by the IDB

"This is the most blatant corruption I have ever seen," Worth fumes. "The IDB logo is on every aspect of the project, they endorse it and they finance it. How can they say that they are not responsible for it?"

RIGHT & LEFT: Congressional Votes

Senate

1. USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 / HR 3162

This dangerous legislation, disguised as a patriotic response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, includes a plethora of provisions that enhance government power and seriously jeopardize individual rights and freedoms. It greatly expands federal surveillance, search and arrest authority while setting a perilous precedent for future abuses. Yet only Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) opposed it in the Upper Chamber. As he asserted during the debate, "Preserving our freedom is one of the main reasons we are now engaged in this new war on terrorism. We will lose that war without firing a shot if we sacrifice the liberties of the American people." The tally on Oct. 25, 2001, was 98 (Left) to 1 (Right).

2. Cassell Nomination

The Democrat-controlled Senate successfully has scuttled or delayed many of the president's most conservative judicial nominees. One who successfully traversed the confirmation obstacle course, however, was University of Utah law professor Paul G. Cassell. He was severely criticized by some Senate leftists for his outspoken defense of capital punishment and his objections to the Supreme Court's 1966 Miranda ruling that requires police to read criminal suspects certain rights prior to questioning (he instead favors having such interrogations videotaped to ensure that constitutional rights are respected). Cassell's nomination to be a U.S. District Judge for Utah was confirmed on May 13 by a vote of 67 (Right) to 20 (Left).

3. Smith Nomination

In 1988, D. Brooke Smith of Pennsylvania was nominated by President Ronald Reagan (and confirmed by the Senate) to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. This year, President George W. Bush nominated Judge Smith to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. Some of his Senate critics sought to besmirch his character, but mainly opposed his conservative views. Outside critics included such leftist entities as the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), the National Organization for Women (NOW) and People for the American Way. Despite the port-side carping, he was confirmed on July 31 by a vote of 64 (Right) to 35 (Left).

House

1. USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 / HR 3162

This controversial measure, among other things, authorizes or expands government authority to conduct covert "black-bag" operations; to use warrantless wiretaps; to eavesdrop phone, e-mail and fax communications; to compel Internet service providers and telephone companies to supply personal information about customers deemed to have terrorist ties; and to similarly to force banks, credit-card companies and other financial institutions to provide customer data. The term "domestic terrorism" is defined so broadly that even peaceful demonstrators could fall within its purview should government officials claim to be "intimidated" by the protests. Nevertheless, only three GOP representatives opposed the bill--Ney (Ohio), Otter (Idaho), and Paul (Texas). The vote on Oct. 24, 2001, was 357 (Left) to 66 (Right).