21. Democrats are already arguing that the numbers cannot possibly add up in a way that will keep the nation on track to a balanced budget. 22. Democrats argue it amounts to a costly windfall for the wealthiest Americans, not the family farmers and small businesses that sponsors say suffer most. 23. Democrats argue that it needs to be passed this year before a shaky economy overcomes the urge to spend billions on subsidies. 24. Democrats argue that they will trump Bush in the tax-cutting debate. 25. Democrats argued that a vote for Nader was equivalent to a vote for Bush. 26. Democrats argued that since the Republican leaders refused to schedule a vote any other way, this was their only recourse. 27. Democrats argued that such a proposal was tantamount to a federal school voucher program, which they have repeatedly blocked. 28. Democrats argued that the GOP plan would create a huge national deficit in the second decade of the tax break. 29. Democrats argued that the GOP plan would further endanger efforts to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit. 30. Democrats argued that the Republican bill would mainly help the richest people in America first and would offer little help to small businesses and family farms for a decade. |