Word: draconian
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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When NEWT GINGRICH and his self-proclaimed revolutionaries took power after the 1994 elections, they passed the so-called gift ban, a deliberately draconian law that prohibits members of Congress and their staffs from accepting gifts of any value--even a cup of coffee--from lobbyists, journalists and contributors. Another reform: Gingrich placed six-year term limits on all committee chairmen. But in the days since Newt announced his resignation, his presumptive heir, BOB LIVINGSTON of Louisiana, has been peppered with furtive requests from fellow Republicans who want to turn back the reform clock. The total gift ban, they argue...
When Newt Gingrich and his self-proclaimed revolutionaries took power after the 1994 elections, they passed the so-called gift ban, a deliberately draconian law that prohibits members of Congress and their staffs from accepting gifts of any value -- even a cup of coffee -- from lobbyists, journalists and contributors. Another reform: Gingrich placed six-year term limits on all committee chairmen. But in the days since Newt announced his resignation, his presumptive heir, Bob Livingston of Louisiana, has been peppered with furtive requests from fellow Republicans who want to turn back the reform clock. The total gift ban, they argue...
...Malaysians may feel uncomfortable with recent developments, but we still have faith in our judicial institutions and the electoral process. The silence of the people should not necessarily be interpreted as fear or lack of interest. We are capable of voting out any government that is unjust and draconian. NEIL KHOR JIN KEONG Kuala Lumpur...
...flounder on a simple legal point -- the "crime" of which David Shayler is accused is not illegal in France. When Shayler threatened to use the Web to expose the inner workings of Britain's spy agency, London sought extradition in order to try Shayler under its draconian Official Secrets Act, which gags former government employees. Shayler was arrested in France over the weekend, and the British government now has 40 days to convince a French court to carry out the extradition. "It's unusual to extradite an individual for something that isn't a crime in your own country," says...
...making loud pullout noises late last week), the move was bold nonetheless; this was (don't laugh) Big Tobacco's bid for sympathy. "Tobacco feels betrayed by the Senate on this deal," says TIME Washington correspondent Bruce Van Voorst. "Senators aren't returning their calls, and the legislation is draconian compared to their deal with the states...