WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With U.S. Senate power shifting to Democrats, incoming Majority Leader Tom Daschle urged President Bush on Sunday to call a bipartisan meeting with lawmakers and said the just-passed $1.35 trillion tax cut package was a "ticking time-bomb."
When Democrats take control of the Senate after the week-long Memorial Day recess, Daschle said Bush should move quickly to help bring all sides together. He said the president could no longer ignore Senate Democratic leaders, accusing the White House of doing just that in pushing his tax bill through Congress.
"They decided to shut us out and work with a couple of Democrats and try to maneuver that way," Daschle said. "It won't work now."
Daschle said he talked with Bush last week for the first time in two months after Vermont Republican James Jeffords altered the balance of power in the narrowly divided Senate by announcing plans to become an Independent.
The minority leader said it was time for Republicans and Democrats to communicate more effectively.
"I'm worried about the climate and the attitude of the other side," Daschle told NBC's "Meet the Press." "I think it would be a great opportunity if he called a bipartisan meeting down the White House, right now. I am willing to come anytime."
The White House said there was no meeting scheduled with Daschle and other Senate leaders, but administration officials said Bush was committed to bipartisan results on education, social security and Medicare.
"PRESIDENT REACHING OUT"
"The president looks forward to meeting him," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said of Daschle. "This president has been reaching out and will continue to reach out in a bipartisan way just like he has on cutting taxes and reforming and improving our public schools."
White House chief of staff Andrew Card told CBS's "Face the Nation" that it appeared that Daschle had had no agenda other than an agenda of "no."
"I hope Senator Daschle will work cooperatively with the Bush agenda," Card said.
Many agree that Democratic control of the Senate could make it harder for Bush to get his programs through Congress. However, the president's top priority, the tax cut, is now headed for his desk for his signature.
In a rare weekend session the biggest tax cut in two decades was approved by a vote of 240-154 in the House of
Daschle said the compromise measure was "terribly irresponsible" and "disastrous" for long term policy.
"Make no mistake, this is an exploding time bomb," Daschle said. "This is going to be four to five trillion dollars when it's fully implemented.
"That's devastating Medicare, devastating Social Security, denying us the opportunity to invest in education and prescription drugs. This is not good policy."
Administration officials said the tax cut was the right thing to do because it would boost the sagging economy and put money back in the pockets of taxpayers.
"Americans have overpaid their government and it's important that we give them a refund rather than spend the surplus on more and bigger government," McClellan said.
Bush is expected to sign the tax cut legislation into law after Congress returns from its holiday recess next week.
