By Malia Rulon
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. George Voinovich isn't likely to suffer political damage for breaking with his party to oppose President Bush's $726 billion tax-cut proposal, despite criticism from the GOP and Democrats.

Republicans gave Voinovich flak when he joined Republican Olympia Snow of Maine and two Democrats to oppose Bush's plan. The moderates said any tax-cutting economic-growth plan must be limited to a 10-year price tag of $350 billion.

Their amendment to reduce the tax cut failed, only to be revived and passed a week later after Bush gave lawmakers the first indication of how much the war would cost.

Voinovich indicated in an interview with the New York Times last week that he would vote for the final budget plan after the House and Senate compromise, regardless of the size of the tax-cut package. His comment sparked backlash from Democrats.

Marcie Ridgway, a Voinovich spokeswoman, said Thursday that the senator would vote for a bill that includes tax cuts over $350 billion only if they are offset by spending reductions.

Lawmakers started this week trying to reconcile House and Senate budget plans. The compromise bill isn't expected to be ready for a vote for at least another week.

Political analysts say Voinovich, a former Ohio governor, could win voters when he runs for re-election in 2004 if he continues to oppose the larger tax cut. His stance reinforces a reputation for independence and fiscal integrity, said Herb Asher, Ohio State University political science professor.

"While it may antagonize some conservative Republicans in Ohio, by and large his stance will play very well in Ohio," said Asher, who has studied state politics for 30 years. "People here believe that deficits matter and that tax cuts aren't as high a priority given that there are other needs, including paying for the war."

After the Senate slashed Bush's tax cut in half, Ohio's three largest newspapers wrote editorials praising Voinovich.

Ross Baker, a Rutgers University specialist on Congress, says the positive editorials show that while Republicans in Washington might take issue with Voinovich's against-the-party stance, the folks back home support him.

"That's political money in the bank," Baker said.