Senior Democrats said they expected to take a few days to decide what the party would do.

The senior Democrats on the two committees also have different styles.

Two senior Democrats who have talked with him had different opinions on his stance.

Yet there are limits to his helpfulness, senior Democrats say.

Still, senior Democrats noted today, it is rare for freshmen to be placed on either committee at all.

Environmentalists were also stung by the opposition of several senior Democrats.

Two senior Democrats said the spending bill required holding back the president's tax cuts for wealthy taxpayers.

"Cheney's got the balance just right," said a senior Democrat.

He has been the senior Democrat on the education committee since 2001 and is expected to become its chairman in January.

And some senior Democrats also suggested that the clock was ticking for a resolution.