In an "open revolt," the House Democratic caucus have blocked
President Obama's tax compromise with Congressional Republicans.
The "outraged" Democrats want changes to the plan, especially a
provision that would lower the estate tax from 45 percent to 35
percent. Vice President Joe Biden has called the current tax
plan "take it or leave it," and the GOP says modifying the
package could be a deal-breaker. Will the Democrats let the tax
deal die, or is this just another step in the negotiation
process? (Watch a PBS report about the Democrats' stand)  It's
deal-or-die time for Obama: "House Democrats haven't exactly
been hiding their disagreement" with this compromise plan, says
Steve Benen in Washington Monthly. But this "formal" move to
block it means Obama has to "pay a lot more attention to what
House Democrats want" if this is to pass. Speaker Nancy Pelosi
may not kill the plan, but she will almost certainly "demand
changes" before there's a vote on it. "House Dems make their
displeasure clear"  House Dems