51.   Leaders now hope for a floor vote soon after Congress returns, after the less controversial tax provisions of the bill move through the Ways and Means Committee.

52.   The tax provisions are aimed at helping mainly small businesses bear part of the cost of the pay increase.

53.   Ultimately, the bill could become a vehicle for several other end-of-session tax provisions as Congress searches for concrete accomplishments to show voters.

54.   Deputies blamed the delay on Walesa himself, as he has referred the budget to the constitutional court for a ruling on its tax provisions.