Wright Ekes Out Tax Bill's Passage: Speaker Literally Turns Back Clock to Overcome Party Rebellion
| The House, capping a day of bitter partisanship and rebellion within the Democratic majority, last night passed by a one-vote margin a</br></br>| The House, capping a day of bitter partisanship and rebellion within the Democratic majority, last night passed by a one-vote margin a åÇ Passage of the legislation on a $06-to-205 vote came amid predictions from some members of both parties that the controversial billÛÓ and the extraordinary leadership muscle used to pass itÛÓcould hamper efforts to negotiate a nonpartisan deficit-reduction package and could send the wrong signal to shaky financial markets.</br></br>' The bill, opposed by 41 Democrats, passed only after the House bemocratic leadership employed a irarely used parliamentary maneuver to overcome a revolt that earlier had derailed the legislation. By first voting not to consider the tax measure, the House issued a stinging rebuke to Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.), his first major setback since assuming the post in January.</br></br>Ûª Republicans accused Wright of manipulating the voting process. They bellowed in protest when he held the vote open until a Democrat from his state, Rep. Jim Chapman, switched to turn the outcome.</br></br>1 The House floor erupted in boos and cries of ÛÏbush leagueÛ as Wright Announced that the bill had passed, ininutes after he had said the time to cast votes had ended with the Vote 206-to-205 against passage.