GINGRICH BRACES FOR TERM-LIMIT DEFEAT

As debate began in the House on a constitutional amendment mandatingterm limits, Speaker Newt Gingrich acknowledged that adivided House GOPcannot pass it without help from Democrats. "If we get half the Democrats, we will pass the term limits constitutional amendment," Gingrich said. He also predicted that more than 85 percent of GOP lawmakers would vote for it, even though some senior Republicans oppose what Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), who has served since 1975, called a "dumb idea." Republican leadership sources say that roughly 190-200 GOP members and about 40 or 50 Democrats would vote for term limits, far short of the 290 needed to send the bill to the Senate.