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Politics : WHO IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004 -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (2010)	5/13/2003 12:27:28 AM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10965

Tax Cut Expected to Pass in Senate on Party Lines Tuesday, May 13, 2003 WASHINGTON — As the Senate prepared to begin debate on the 2003 tax cut package, most votes have been decided already on party lines. But President Bush continues to barnstorm, traveling to three states to put pressure on some Democratic senators to back the biggest tax cut possible. Bush began in New Mexico on Monday targeting Sen. Jeff Bingaman, an expected "no" vote. "I hope you join me in raising your voices to make sure that Congress enacts an economic stimulus plan big enough to help people who are looking for work," Bush told a group of business owners outside Albuquerque. Bush also visited Nebraska to turn the heat up on Sen. Ben Nelson, who has said he might vote for a larger tax cut but only if he is not the deciding vote. The president is also targeting Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a noted centrist up for re-election next year in Indiana. Senate passage of a tax cut is all but certain, though it looks to pass by a slim 51-49 margin, largely on straight party lines. So far, only two Democrats plan to support the Senate tax cut. However, two Republicans plan to vote no -- Sens. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and Arizona's John McCain, both of whom also opposed the Bush tax cuts in 2001. The two Democrats backing the Senate tax cut are Georgia's one-term and retiring Sen. Zell Miller, a staunch Bush backer, and Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln, also up for re-election in 2004. Lincoln announced her support last week, shortly after the president visited her state. The House has passed a $550 billion tax relief package. The Senate version is $350 billion and adds $20 billion in aid to cash-strapped states and $71 billion in additional tax cuts that will be offset by other corresponding tax and fee hikes to cover the cost. The president wants Democratic votes so he can call the tax cut bipartisan, but opponents say it is too costly and will increase the federal debt. The Congressional Budget Office now says this year's deficit will exceed $300 billion. The president argues some things are more important than deficits. "I'm worried about the deficit, but I am more worried about the fellow looking for work. I'm worried about the deficit, but I am more worried about the single mom who's worried about putting food on the table for her children," Bush said. Republicans had hoped for a final vote by the end of this week, but just as debate was to get underway Monday, Democrats made a procedural objection forcing the GOP to go back to the Finance Committee and make some technical changes in the way the bill is written Debate is now slated to begin Wednesday. Fox News' Carl Cameron contributed to this report. URL:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,86690,00.html