The biggest difference on tactical approaches is over the total of cuts. Part of a Senate budget "reconciliation" bill authorizes a maximum of $70 billion in tax cuts over five years. Tax cuts of $70 billion or less can pass the Senate by a simple majority of 51 votes, rather than the 60 votes normally needed to block a filibuster.

The House included $56 billion in cuts as part of the reconciliation process. The other cuts, including those related to the hurricane and the Alternative Minimum Tax, are separate and would need 60 votes to clear the Senate.

House Republicans are betting that that Democrats want those other cuts badly enough that they would not dare block them through a filibuster. If that proves correct, Senate Republicans would be able to put the cut for stock dividends in the final "reconciliation" bill and pass it with 51 votes.

"We don't need a reconciliation bill in the House," Thomas said Wednesday on the floor. "We are just doing this to help the Senate."