Published: September 27, 2008 12:56 am      

9-27 OKC news in brief

Senate Republicans block economic stimulus bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Oklahoma Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn joined other Republicans in the Senate Friday to block a plan by Democrats to pump $56 billion in government spending into the economy.

The vote was 52-42 for the bill with 60 votes needed to defeat a Republican filibuster.

Inhofe and Coburn were among 40 Republicans voting against the bill which called for funding public works projects, help for the jobless and money for states struggling with Medicaid bills.

It would have followed up on a bipartisan plan enacted this winter to try to boost the economy through tax rebate checks.

Democrats have pressed for a follow-up plan to extend unemployment benefits, boost food stamp payments and build infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, water and sewer projects and school repairs.



Utah lawyer can question, videotape Terry Nichols

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A judge ordered the government to make Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols available for a videotaped interview by a Utah lawyer who is trying to learn more about the federal investigation behind the 1995 bombing.

Jesse Trentadue also can take a deposition from convicted killer David Paul Hammer, a death-row acquaintance of bomber Timothy McVeigh, who was executed in 2001.

U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball’s decision was the second time he ordered the government to cooperate with interviews of Nichols at a maximum-security prison in Florence, Colo., and of Hammer, who is on death row in Terre Haute, Ind.