The loudest protests to giving the president wide latitude to wage war are coming from many black and liberal lawmakers from the region.

But liberal lawmakers and commentators suspected that the hard-liners would not give up without a fight.

And urban and liberal lawmakers say the Governor's cuts take money from social services and education.

Legislation approved by the House two weeks ago contains a more sweeping death penalty provision that has drawn fire from liberal lawmakers and civil liberties groups.

Until recently an unusual coalition of liberal and conservative lawmakers has blocked any action on a bill asking taxpayers for $13.8 billion as the American share.

"He didn't give us a chance to set our own agenda," one liberal lawmaker said.

Those laws were challenged by a remarkable coalition of liberal and conservative lawmakers and a diverse collection of organizations.

The opponents include both liberal and conservative lawmakers.

Despite support from liberal lawmakers, his plan failed, along with a similar initiative by the Clinton administration.

In the Legislature, some socially liberal lawmakers suddenly found themselves voting with social conservatives.