July 19, 2003

Selena Roberts Sports of The Times column discusses temptations that teenage NBA draft picks will likely face and lesson they can learn from problems of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, currently being charged with sexual assault (M)

The White House presented a detailed account of how disputed intelligence made it into the State of the Union address, and it contradicted a C.I.A. claim in the process. Page A6.

Analysis: Bush administration officials are wrangling with Democratic critics over merits of tax cuts; proponents argue that cuts will lead to increased economic growth and new jobs while critics see looming budget deficits and higher interest rates; many economists warn is too early for either side to make any predictions (M)

Wealthy Benenson family of Los Angeles has brought fraud suit against influential estate tax attorney Jonathan G Blattmachr over insurance plan he brokered to them in 2000; policy was designed as tax shelter to protect Benensons from millions of dollars in federal gift and estate taxes; suit is latest in spate of actions against promoters and lawyers since IRS began cracking down on tax shelters in 2001; photo (M)

Congressional lawmakers propose stricter regulations for pharmacy benefit managers that provide drug plans for most American employees as part of current legislation to add prescription drug benefit to Medicare; Senate and House bills would require that pharmacy benefit managers disclose details of their negotiations with drug manufacturers; pharmacy benefit managers contend this would undermine their ability to negotiate discounts and rebates; critics hold that use of pharmacy benefit managers drives up costs by favoring more expensive drugs; chart; photos (M)