1.   But, not wanting to look like they opposed tax cuts, Democrats offered an alternative despite the lack of a budget framework.

2.   House Republicans failed to include anticipated lease fees from new exploration in a budget framework.

3.   Instead GOP leaders expect to consult with the White House as they develop their own budget framework in hopes of avoiding public rancor.

4.   On a vote suffused with Republican presidential politics, the Senate on Tuesday rejected a proposal to include deep tax cuts in its budget framework.

5.   The group agreed to a budget framework that embraced the Senate Republican position on Social Security and strategy to counter the Democratic assault on the potent retirement issue.

6.   The Senate is likely to delay action until it has put a budget framework in place, which could take weeks.

7.   These include establishing a budget framework, ending a banking freeze and reinforcing the independence of the central bank, he said.

8.   Those areas include establishing a budget framework, ending a banking freeze and reinforcing the independence of the central bank, Koehler said.

9.   Reports have suggested that the White House and Congress were nearing a deal on a budget framework, but Clinton indicated no final agreement had been sealed.