US: The US's Republican-controlled House of Representatives has voted both to shield fast-food chains from law suits that blame them for making people fat and giving the gun industry sweeping protection from civil litigation.
Nicknamed the "cheeseburger bill", the food measure, which was agreed on Wednesday, stems from law suits accusing McDonald's of causing obesity in tens of thousands of children. The food industry has asked Congress to protect it from liability, and so far, 21 states have agreed.
"You cannot litigate personal choices and lifestyles," said Republican Rep Mike Rogers.
House Judiciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner, also a Republican, said potential costs from the law suits threatened the food industry and its 12 million employees and raised food prices for consumers.
Yesterday's gun legislation is another huge victory for the National Rifle Association, which with its many allies in Congress has been able to outvote and outflank the dwindling number of vocal gun control advocates in Congress.
The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms bill passed on a bipartisan 283-144 vote, with several dozen Democrats from gun-friendly Southern states or rural areas joining the Republican majority. The Senate already has passed the legislation and the White House strongly backs it.
The legislation would provide gun makers, dealers and distributors with broad immunity from civil lawsuits filed by dozens of cities and municipalities, as well as make it harder for individuals harmed by gun violence to sue.
Last year the NRA also successfully blocked renewal of the 10-year-old ban on assault weapons.
The Brady Centre, a gun control organisation, said it would challenge the bill in court, arguing it violated the US Constitution.
The bills are part of the conservative agenda of limiting lawsuits and tort reform.