More on The Politics of The Tax Cut

Dana Milbank and Jim VandeHei - In Ohio last month, Bush said senators "might have some explaining to do" for approving "a little bitty tax relief package" of $350 billion. "The package ought to be at least $550 billion in size over a 10-year period in order to make sure that the economy grows," he said.

But it was a different Bush who appeared in the Capitol yesterday to congratulate lawmakers for reaching agreement on a $350 billion plan with $318 billion of tax cuts over 10 years.

The biggest impediment to a deal was the growing tension between House and Senate Republicans. Senate Republicans felt that Thomas was arrogant and ignorant of the difficulties Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) faced in winning passage. House Republicans saw Senate Republicans as afraid to fight for more of Bush's priorities.

Thomas stormed out of at least one meeting, and Grassley left several stung by Thomas's ways. So Bush turned to an old congressional hand -- Cheney -- to muscle through the deadlock.