Aknauta
01-09-2003, 12:59 AM
townhall.com
Robert Novak
January 9, 2003
No time for compromise
WASHINGTON -- On the first day of the 108th Congress Tuesday, President Bush and his Democratic adversaries signaled a contentious year ahead. In Chicago, the president unveiled an economic package making clear he is not about to negotiate with himself to avoid criticism. In Washington, Democratic senators kicked off the session by indicating they would give no quarter.
Many of Bush's backers were pleasantly surprised by what he proposed at the Economic Club of Chicago. Instead of a 50 percent cut in the tax on dividends, the president called for total repeal. His acceleration of the 2001 tax cuts rejected counsels of caution that he hold down the cost. Indeed, when the $670 billion price tag was floated late Monday, even supporters gasped in surprise.
At the same time in Washington, the Senate Democratic leadership pulled off a carefully calculated ambush of newly installed Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Breaking a deal for a bipartisan unemployment benefits package, the Democrats pushed a greatly expanded bill. It failed, but took the new GOP leader by surprise.
Two tough Republican infighters -- Sens. Don Nickles of Oklahoma and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania -- went to the floor to untangle the situation (http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20030109.shtml)
Robert Novak
January 9, 2003
No time for compromise
WASHINGTON -- On the first day of the 108th Congress Tuesday, President Bush and his Democratic adversaries signaled a contentious year ahead. In Chicago, the president unveiled an economic package making clear he is not about to negotiate with himself to avoid criticism. In Washington, Democratic senators kicked off the session by indicating they would give no quarter.
Many of Bush's backers were pleasantly surprised by what he proposed at the Economic Club of Chicago. Instead of a 50 percent cut in the tax on dividends, the president called for total repeal. His acceleration of the 2001 tax cuts rejected counsels of caution that he hold down the cost. Indeed, when the $670 billion price tag was floated late Monday, even supporters gasped in surprise.
At the same time in Washington, the Senate Democratic leadership pulled off a carefully calculated ambush of newly installed Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Breaking a deal for a bipartisan unemployment benefits package, the Democrats pushed a greatly expanded bill. It failed, but took the new GOP leader by surprise.
Two tough Republican infighters -- Sens. Don Nickles of Oklahoma and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania -- went to the floor to untangle the situation (http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20030109.shtml)