Separate Inquiry Fails to Gain Support

By Spencer S. Hsu and Josh White

Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, September 15, 2005; Page A15

The Senate voted along party lines yesterday to reject creation of an independent panel to investigate the government's fumbling response to Hurricane Katrina.

The proposal, from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), would have established a panel similar to the one that examined the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The partisan wrangling came amid rising calls from members of both parties to change how the nation manages major disasters.