It was pulled from the agenda of the bishops' meeting last November after the Vatican raised last-minute objections.

The budget, which is for the next fiscal year and totals nearly $2 trillion, was supposed to be passed last week but got put off because of last-minute objections.

The letter today represented a significant broadside against that view, even though one of its signers cast doubt on whether the last-minute objections would derail the project.

In particular, he cited last-minute objections raised by BellSouth and the Ameritech Corporation.

Today's decision came despite vehement last-minute objections from Germany, the biggest country in the European Union.

Even the statement's release was delayed Monday because of last-minute objections by Sunni leaders.

The bill was passed over the last-minute objections of the American Medical Association.

But those same officials cautioned that sticking points remain, and that agreements in the Capitol are always subject to last-minute objections.

Despite last-minute objections from the Administration and the House minority leader, Robert Michel, the measure deserves swift approval.

But last-minute procedural objections by Democrats forced the panel to delay its final vote to next week.