41.   Democrats have been encouraged by polls showing that the public does not rank tax cuts as a top priority.

42.   Democrats have been more receptive to tax cuts as estimates of the surplus rise.

43.   During the campaigns, the Democratic candidates consistently attacking state budget cuts as harsh while Republican candidates embraced the Pataki plan as fiscally sound.

44.   Earlier, Bush had been cool to capital gains tax cuts as part of the package.

45.   Fighters attack and attempt to widen cuts as a ring tactic.

46.   For years he has denounced such cuts as a threat to budget-balancing.

47.   German bonds climbed on expectations of an interest rate cut as a rally that has taken yields to their lowest levels in a year gathered momentum.

48.   Greenspan cautiously embraced tax cuts as a way to help sustain economic growth.

49.   Gross margins were hurt by price cuts as the House of Fraser unloaded excess inventories from closed stores and departments.

50.   Greenspan also stressed that he did not view tax cuts as a way to jump-start economic growth, which he acknowledged has slowed very close to zero.