71.   There are those who would like to keep campaign promises, like not putting new tax burdens on the middle-class, but they know they cannot.

72.   But he will also detail new taxes that could pose a severe political test for a president elected on a minority vote.

73.   But he played down new taxes on foreign companies operating in the US, which raised alarm bells in Europe during the election campaign.

74.   The early response has not been enthusiastic, though aides insisted yesterday that for many households the new tax bills would amount to only a few dollars a month.

75.   So far, he has been encouraged by what he describes as the responsible way councils have handled the introduction of the new tax.

76.   Almost nothing about the new tax law is irreversible.

77.   Almost certainly, they would include steep new taxes and sharp cuts in benefits for affluent retirees.

78.   Almost incredibly, Bush wants to accelerate and make permanent previously enacted tax cuts and add new tax cuts on top of them.

79.   Also, the prospect of new taxes to reduce the deficit threatens to discourage consumers from shopping, economists say.

80.   And a new tax provision due to take effect next year frees them to sell off cross-holdings without facing immense capital-gains tax bills.