WASHINGTON (AP) -- With little notice, the Senate took action recently designed to make it impossible for violent criminals to benefit financially from their misdeeds by writing books or undertaking other activities. The so-called ``Son of Sam'' provision was authored by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and designed to overcome objections the Supreme Court raised to a similar law passed by New York state in 1991. Dorgan issued a statement saying the provision would prevent anyone convicted of a violent state or federal felony from profiting from written accounts of their crime, and from the sale of other property. ``Violent crime should not pay,'' he said. By broadening the prohibition beyond written or spoken material, Dorgan said he hopes to avoid having the measure thrown out as unconstitutional. A 1991 law enacted in New York provided for the seizure of profits criminals made from describing their misdeeds. By an 8-0 vote, the Supreme Court invalidated that law, saying it improperly singled out proceeds from books, movies and other published works. The statute gets its name from the New York Legislature's outraged response to reports that publishers were offering large sums to ``Son of Sam'' serial killer David Berkowitz for the rights to his story. While the law never was applied to Berkowitz, it has been used to limit the book and movie profits in other cases. The provision was part of an amendment approved by voice vote and attached to a broader juvenile justice measure that also contains several gun control provisions. The House is expected to consider its own version of the juvenile justice bill next month. ------ Decision time is fast approaching for House Republicans who favor overhauling the nation's campaign finance laws. Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., has said he won't bring the measure to the floor as early as they want, meaning they have to decide whether to accept his verdict or join Democrats in trying to force his hand. The most prominent GOP lawmaker advocating passage of the law, Rep. Chris Shays of Connecticut, is expected to announce at a news conference Wednesday that he will buck his party's leadership and sign a Democratic-drafted petition to force the issue to the floor. But senior Republican aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed confidence that supporters would not get the 218 signatures they need. Currently, 194 Democrats have signed the petition. Shays and any other Republican who signs can expect the displeasure of fellow GOP lawmakers. It's the majority party's prerogative to decide on the schedule for legislation on the floor, and anyone who sides with the minority is likely to be harshly criticized inside the GOP caucus. The political stakes are large, but the number of days involved is not. Advocates of campaign finance overhaul want the measure on the floor by July, and say any delay beyond that will make it impossible to get the bill through the Senate. Hastert has offered a date of mid-September, after an August vacation. ------ Hoping to capitalize on a potent political issue, House Democrats are moving quickly to press their demand for immediate debate on gun control legislation. At a private meeting Monday, party leaders decided to stage a series of parliamentary maneuvers throughout the week to draw attention to the issue. Part of the effort will be the unveiling of a petition -- similar to the one concerning campaign finance -- to force the issue to the floor. There's virtually no chance Democrats will succeed in getting a direct vote on gun control this week. Besides, Republicans have already said they'll bring the issue to the floor the week of June 14. ------ EDITOR'S NOTE: David Espo is AP's chief congressional correspondent. -=-=- 