41.   Democrats said the rest would come from vital federal programs.

42.   Democrats said the suggestion that they had purposely encouraged dependency was absurd.

43.   Democrats said their position was consistent with that of President Bush.

44.   Democrats said they also want to address the penalty, but do it in a less expensive way that directs more benefits to low- and middle-income people.

45.   Democrats said they favored exempting family-owned farms and small businesses from the estate tax, and offered their own plan to do so.

46.   Democrats said they feared that House Republicans would have a similar experience this year.

47.   Democrats said they had not been given the rules before, and that it was the same kind of rushed decision-making Republicans have complained about.

48.   Democrats said they had reluctantly voted for the latest stopgap spending bill because it was the only way to avoid a shutdown and the prospect of deeper cuts.

49.   Democrats said they must move carefully and they face a difficult balancing act.

50.   Democrats said they supported improving the tax system or considering a new approach.