All the provisions are interrelated so that if one part of the deal is adjusted, other parts of the plan may be changed as well.

Republicans hope to pass their tax cut bill by week's end, when the August recess begins. But the lawmakers will likely let the legislation just sit there to avoid having Democratic President Bill Clinton hold an unencumbered veto ceremony while they're out of town.

Republicans would use their monthlong summer vacation to build grassroots political pressure for a tax cut -- something that recent polls show is not yet a priority for the majority of Americans.

The GOP tax bill would likely arrive at the White House after Labor Day, which is when the real bargaining would begin on all the budget considerations, including tax cuts, Medicare and Social Security.

The Democratic leadership has argued for a substantially smaller tax cut, and Clinton has pledged to veto any package that exceeds $300 billion.

Even though they know there is virtually no chance their plan will be signed, Republicans are still going through the motions.

Some GOP lawmakers practically taunted Clinton to sign their measure.

"We do not give up on the possibility that he will sign (tax cuts). But if he vetoes them, we think he'll find he's disappointed the American people," said House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas.

He added that Clinton "is a man who will disappoint everyone in his life except his pollster."

Other Republicans took a slightly different tone.

"I say to the president tonight: Please don't veto this bill. Please reconsider your staunch opposition to giving the people their money back," says Texas Republican Rep. Bill Archer, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

But before the legislation gets to the president's veto pen, Republicans have to choose the plan they want him to veto.

CNN's Bob Franken and The Associated Press contributed to this report.