"I still believe it's the right thing," Bush said when asked about political opposition to the tax break after a meeting on Capitol Hill with Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo.
"The potential economic downturn is perhaps more real today than it was a year ago," Bush said during his first day in Washington since his victory. "I think the case is even more solid today than it was a year ago when I started campaigning on the issue."
Bush and Vice President-elect Dick Cheney in recent weeks pointed to lower corporate earnings and a slowdown in the automotive industry as signs of a possible recession, which Bush and Cheney say can be averted by freeing investment capital with tax cuts.
However, Greenspan has repeatedly argued against large tax cuts in congressional testimony and urged lawmakers and the White House to use record budget surpluses to pay down the national debt before cutting taxes. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats say Bush's plan is tailored to benefit the wealthy.
Bush's tax plan is increasingly a looming political fight. Bush has said the proposal will top his legislative agenda and signaled no willingness to reduce the size of the plan. And Democrats stand ready to block the measure with half the seats in the Senate and nearly half in the House.
"I think all four [Lott, Hastert, Daschle, Gephardt] standing here understand that I campaigned on a clear view of tax relief and that's what I'm going to bring to the floor of the House and the Senate," Bush said.
"There's going to be a lot of discussions, a lot of head-knocking, a lot of, kind of, gentle arm-twisting. I'm sure they'll be twisting my arm, and I might try to twist a few myself."
Bush said the first legislation he would focus on, however, would deal with education.
Bush arrived in Washington late Sunday for a three-day visit. In addition to the meetings Monday, he planned to visit President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore and interview prospective members of his Cabinet.
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