The Supreme Court's decision Monday to uphold Indiana's photo-ID law in elections will permit Republican-dominated legislatures in other states to pass legislation that liberal political advocates say will disenfranchise poorer, Democratic-leaning voters.

Project Vote, a liberal-leaning voter-registration group, said 59 voter-ID bills have been introduced in 24 states, nearly all of them by Republicans, during the 2008 legislative session. Republican legislators in 11 states also are pushing bills to require proof of citizenship to register to vote.

More than 20 states, including Arizona, require some type of identification at the polls. The Supreme Court, on a 6-3 vote, ruled that Indiana has a "valid interest in protecting the integrity and reliability of the electoral process,' " Justice John Paul Stevens said in an opinion that was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Stevens said Indiana's desire to prevent fraud and to inspire voter confidence in the election system are important even though there have been no reports of the kind of fraud the law was designed to combat. The law does not apply to absentee balloting, where election experts agree the threat of fraud is higher.

The use of photo IDs as a way to curb voter fraud has become a touchstone for Democrats, who accuse the GOP of engaging in a vast conspiracy to restrict voting of the poor, the elderly and minorities.

Congress investigated the Bush administration's Justice Department last year over allegations that its Civil Rights Division had twisted enforcement of the nation's voting-rights laws to aid Republicans and had authorized restrictive voter-ID laws in various states.

The court says Bosco Ntaganda conscripted child soldiers to fight in the Ituri region of eastern Congo from July 2002 until December 2003.

The court's prosecutor says Ntaganda is still at large in the Congo.

Prosecutors say he is chief of staff of a "political-military group" commanded by rebel Laurent Nkunda in North Kivu province.

Tuesday's statement alleges that Ntaganda is a former ally of Thomas Lubanga. Lubanga was the first suspect taken into custody by the Hague-based court and is due to go on trial in late June for allegedly using child soldiers.

Rebate paper checks will be mailed to those who did not opt for an electronic transfer, beginning on May 9. The IRS will issue payments of up to 600 dollars (1,200 dollars for married couples), plus 300 for eligible children younger than 17.

The rebates are available to individuals who have income of less than 75,000 dollars a year, or 150,000 dollars for a couple. People who have no requirement to file a tax form must have at least 3,000 in qualifying income, such as earned income and pension benefits, and file the form to receive a rebate.

Rebate checks will continue to be mailed through mid-July. For those who did not file by the April 15 deadline, there may be a delay in receiving the rebates, the IRS said.

The stimulus plan is expected to cost 152 billion dollars this year.

In a splintered 6-3 ruling, the court upheld Indiana's strict photo ID requirement, which Democrats and civil rights groups said would deter poor, older and minority voters from casting ballots. Its backers said it was needed to prevent fraud.

It was the most important voting rights case since the Bush v. Gore dispute that sealed the 2000 election for George W. Bush. But the voter ID ruling lacked the conservative-liberal split that marked the 2000 case.

The law "is amply justified by the valid interest in protecting 'the integrity and reliability of the electoral process,'" Justice John Paul Stevens said in an opinion that was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Anthony Kennedy. Stevens was a dissenter in Bush v. Gore in 2000. Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas also agreed with the outcome, but wrote separately.

Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter dissented, just as they did in 2000.More than 20 states require some form of identification at the polls. Courts have upheld voter ID laws in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, but struck down Missouri's. Monday's decision comes a week before Indiana's presidential primary.

A Smithtown contractor pleaded guilty to a felony bribery charge on Monday -- the second person to admit guilt and agree to cooperate in a widening buildings department corruption probe that has rocked town government.

Robert Fitzpatrick, 55, of Bayport, pleaded guilty to third-degree bribery before Suffolk County Court Judge Martin Efman. He was released on his own recognizance pending sentencing on July 14.

As part of a plea deal, Fitzpatrick faces a maximum of 1 to 3 years in prison, or as little as no jail time at all.

Prosecutor Kevin Ward said Fitzpatrick admitted to offering a $5,000 bribe to then-chief buildings inspector Robert Bonerba in March 2003 in connection with a house Ward was building for Smithtown developer Frank Esposito.

Ward said Fitzpatrick lied on building permits for the developer's house to save money on permit fees and avoid a higher tax liability.

Rocking back and forth in brown loafers and with his hands folded neatly in front of his blue sport coat, Fitzpatrick said only "yes" and "no" before the judge.

Earlier this month, Esposito, of Nissequogue, pleaded guilty to giving Bonerba a $10,000 bribe. Ward said in court Monday that Fitzpatrick and Esposito evenly contributed $5,000 toward the bribe. Bonerba has not been charged in the case.

Also as part of his plea deal, Fitzpatrick agreed to pay the town $50,000 -- money prosecutors say he gained illegally in the project.

Fitzpatrick now joins Esposito in helping prosecutors understand the depth of town corruption.

"The defendant has entered into a cooperation agreement with the district attorney's office," Ward said in court.

Outside the courtroom, Ward said only, "We are going to follow the evidence wherever it leads us. This investigation is active and ongoing. It encompasses both the town building's department and the rest of town government."

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota has been investigating the buildings department for two years.

Asked by reporters about his cooperation, Fitzpatrick, said only "Not at this time." His attorney, Fred Schwartz, of Smithtown, also declined to comment.

Bonerba was suspended by the town in December 2006 for failing to properly fill out his financial disclosure statements. Before a hearing could be held to weigh his termination, he retired on a state pension of $31,871.

Bonerba could not immediately be reached for comment.