House Takes Its Own Sweet Time, But Passes Tax Cuts

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives took a while to do it, but they approved the intricately negotiated $858 billion tax deal in the small hours Friday by a vote of 277-148. Republicans and Democrats favoring the bill were split almost down the middle.

The bill now goes to a visibly relieved President Barack Obama to be signed into law.

Before the House vote Obama said, "I hope that members from both parties can come together in a spirit of common purpose to protect American families and our economy as a whole by passing this essential economic package."

The biggest outcry against the bill came from House liberals who were strongly opposed to what they called "an excessive giveaway to the rich" in the form of a lower estate tax.