"This is the beginning of our attempt to gather information so that we can investigate these issues," said Representative John Wayne Fox, the Democratic co-chairman of the committee.

Representative John Wayne Fox of Stamford, the Democratic co-chairman, said the legislature had to fight the lawsuit for the sake of precedent.

"I am concerned," said Senator John Adler, the Democratic co-chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

But the legislators do not expect any conflicts with the federal investigation, said John Wayne Fox, the Democratic co-chairman of the 10-member impeachment panel.

Even Mr. Inouye, the Democratic co-chairman of the committee, seemed to have a new resignation in his voice when he talked during a break.

"I could sit down with Drew Lewis, and we could write a good budget plan in an hour," said Robert S. Strauss, the Democratic co-chairman.

He described the comments last week by Robert S. Strauss, the Democratic co-chairman, as "not helpful" to the deliberations.

And Senator Wayne Bryant, the Democratic co-chairman of the committee, said, "I don't think this is the time for us to be thinking about increasing taxes."

Neither Mr. Baker nor his Democratic co-chairman, Lee H. Hamilton, the former congressman, would comment on the meetings with Syrian officials.

Representative John Wayne Fox, the Democratic co-chairman of the committee, said that Mr. Rowland should not be penalized for others' resistance to the subpoenas.