The Democrats’ Cautious Tiptoe Around the President’s Tax Cuts

From The New York Times:

President Bush is all but daring Democratic leaders to attack his signature tax cuts as they take over Congress. But Democrats, perhaps to his frustration, are having none of it.

But even as Democratic leaders continue to accuse Mr. Bush of having a reckless fiscal policy, they have refused to discuss dismantling his tax cuts . . . .

[Senator Kent Conrad, the North Dakota Democrat who is chairman of the Senate Budget Committee,] acknowledged on Tuesday that higher taxes, especially on wealthier families, would eventually have to be part of a comprehensive plan that included tough spending restraint and an overhaul of entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.

“I believe that if Americans are told the truth they will support actions necessary to address the budget,” he said. “If we’re going to be honest about this, it’s going to require both sides’ giving up some of their fundamental positions.”

But other Democratic lawmakers say it would be almost pointless to lead an unpopular fight over raising taxes until Republicans are willing to share some of the political pain.

With Mr. Bush almost certain to fight almost any effort to revisit his tax cuts, and Republicans in Congress unlikely to rebel against the president, Democrats are inclined to wait until after Mr. Bush is gone.