LAST-MINUTE CHANGES TO CLEAR SKIES FAIL TO PERSUADE BILL'S OPPONENTS

Last-minute changes to the Clear Skies bill are doing nothing to allay fears from Senate Democrats and other critics of the legislation that it will have major negative impacts on a range of pressing air issues, even though the bill's sponsors attempted to address concerns ranging from mercury hotspots to climate change. Opponents, such as environmentalists and state officials, say a number of amendments put forward in a "manager's mark" of the bill on Feb. 15 only slightly modify the...