SENATE VETS BECOME FILI-BUSTERS

Exasperated after the close of a Congress paralyzed by frequent Republican filibusters, a few Senate alumni have risen to take action -- and exact pledges of reform. Action, Not Gridlock, a bipartisan group, led by former Sens. William Proxmire (D-Wis.) and Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.), wrote to this year's Senate candidates asking them to announce their support for a ban on filibusters. "Senators are elected to make decisions, not to block decision-making," it reads. Senate offices began kicking around the idea today, although no official responses emerged.