Central Element of Bush Tax Plan Passes the House

In the first big test of President Bush's standing in Congress, the House of Representatives today (March 8) approved the heart of his tax cut plan, an across-the-board reduction in income tax rates that was one of the foundations of his election campaign, reported the New York Times.

The partisan edge in the debate was every bit as sharp as it was in the Clinton years.  In the end, no Republicans voted against the bill, and only 10 Democrats broke ranks and voted for it.

The final tally was 230 to 198.