Other companies have done this, and lawmakers contend they were exploiting a loophole that allowed them to raise capital without paying taxes on it.

Perhaps it is fitting that they are also the children of Mexican immigrants, lawmakers and political analysts contend.

Some lawmakers, reflecting a concern by others about so-called sting operations, contend that the officials were entrapped.

As a result, some lawmakers contend that fees in tobacco cases should be limited to an hourly rate.

Republican lawmakers contend that state officials would exercise greater scrutiny.

Democratic lawmakers contend that the Bush administration has been dragging its feet on efforts to track down underreporting.

That way, lawmakers contend, investigators can be held accountable for their mistakes.

But in the hearing yesterday, several lawmakers and industry representatives contended that coverage should be expanded to include workers covered by group life insurance.

The lawmakers contended that they had firmly reached such a consensus in the first hours of the coup and only bothered to publicize it later.

Some lawmakers contended that doctors, serving on the medical review panels, might also work for insurance companies and favor their positions.