WASHINGTON — A Senate committee yesterday approved a package of tax breaks for energy production that would cost about $14 billion over 10 years.

The Finance Committee measure, which was sent to the full Senate for consideration as part of an energy bill, provides some tax breaks for traditional forms of energy but focuses heavily on incentives for renewable and cleaner-burning forms of energy. The measure is far more costly than the White House has requested and is almost entirely different from a package of energy tax breaks approved by the House in April.

On the Senate floor, where debate over energy legislation began this week, lawmakers approved an amendment yesterday that would require 10 percent of electricity sold to consumers to come from renewable sources by 2020. But they rejected an amendment by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., that set a goal of reducing U.S. dependency on foreign oil by 40 percent in 20 years.

Bush promotes new drug coverage

President Bush kicked off a nationwide campaign yesterday, telling older people to circle Nov. 15 on their calendars. That's when they can enroll for the new prescription drug coverage under Medicare.

"Starting this November, every American on Medicare can sign up to get help paying for their prescription drugs," Bush said in a speech at the Health and Human Services Department.

Starting Oct. 1, information about the prescription drug coverage will be available to 42 million older people as well as people with developmental and physical disabilities and mental illnesses and HIV/AIDS.

Enrollment starts Nov. 15. The benefit begins Jan. 1.

The National Rifle Association and its allies in the House beat back an effort yesterday to restrict gun manufacturers' exports of high-powered, .50-caliber rifles that can bring down jet airliners from a mile away.

By a 278-149 vote, the House killed an amendment by Rep. James Moran to block .50-caliber exports to civilians. He said the guns are weapons for terrorists.

The vote came as the House wrapped up a three-day debate and passed by 418-7 a $57.5 billion spending bill for NASA and the departments of Commerce, State and Justice for the budget year beginning Oct. 1.

Frist denies making Schiavo diagnosis

Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader and a heart surgeon, acknowledged yesterday that Terri Schiavo had suffered devastating brain damage and said his assertion three months ago that she was "not somebody in persistent vegetative state" did not amount to a medical diagnosis.

Frist, R-Tenn., appearing on three network TV shows, agreed with this week's autopsy conclusion that the Florida woman had suffered severe, irreversible brain damage.

Some Democrats and doctors criticized Frist's March 17 Senate speech in which he said that he had reviewed videotapes of Schiavo and that "there just seems to be insufficient information to conclude that Terri Schiavo is (in a) persistent vegetative state."

On ABC's "Good Morning America," Frist said: "Looking at the court-appointed tapes, I raised the question, 'Is she in a persistent vegetative state or not?' I never made the diagnosis, never said that she was not."

Woman files suit against Rep. Sherwood

A woman who accused Rep. Don Sherwood, R-Pa., of trying to choke her at his Capitol Hill apartment last fall is suing him for $5.5 million.

Cynthia Ore, 29, of Rockville, Md., alleges in the suit filed in Superior Court that during her five-year relationship with Sherwood, who is married, he assaulted her on several occasions.

Sherwood, 64, in a statement yesterday from his attorney, "emphatically" denied that he had ever abused Ore.

Also

Deep Throat: Mark Felt, who revealed himself as Deep Throat, has agreed to a book and movie deal about his life, his publisher and agent said yesterday.

Judges: On a party-line vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee sent the nomination of North Carolina judge Terrence Boyle to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to the full Senate for confirmation.

Compiled from The Washington Post

and The Associated Press