Nickles confident of passing Bush tax

cut (Washington-AP) -- While some moderate Republicans are indicating concern about the size of the president's proposed tax cut, Oklahoma Senator Don Nickles is confident the cuts will pass.

Two Republican senators have joined three Democrats in a letter to President Bush that urges him to allow some of the cuts only if the surplus meets specific targets each year.

Nickles says he believes the votes will be there to pass the bulk of the president's one-point-six (t) trillion dollar tax cut package. Nickles acknowledges that getting the votes won't be easy.

As Senate Majority Whip, Nickles is the G-O-P's chief vote counter in the Senate.