Democrats saw the deficit-reduction bill as "extremist", while a rump of Republicans felt it didn't go far enough.

Following is the 54-to-45 roll-call vote by which the Senate voted today to approve a deficit-reduction bill containing tax increases and spending cuts for the next five years.

This year, it might take a King Solomon to forge a deficit-reduction bill that can be enacted.

But it is also a jobs bill, an economic recovery bill, was a deficit-reduction bill, was an antidiscrimination bill.

At the last minute, Mr. Dole was able to insert language protecting the $8.5 million into a deficit-reduction bill.

Following is the roll-call vote of 228 to 200 by which the House of Representatives today approved a deficit-reduction bill including tax increases.

The deficit-reduction bill signed by President Bush on Nov. 5 established the 10 percent excise tax.

But in the case of the higher tax rates, what the conferees approved today will almost certainly become law if any deficit-reduction bill is enacted.

President Bush praised the Senate for passing a deficit-reduction bill and for voting to allow drilling in a small part of the Arctic refuge.

The giant budget measure passed in October was widely described as a "deficit-reduction bill."