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The House of Representatives approved today the main portion of President Bush's $1.6 trillion tax cut. Republican leaders were exultant about passing the president's prize proposal in record time. The vote followed party lines, despite weeks of courtship by the White House. And the bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where a bipartisan group of centrists is insisting on modifications. NPR's David Welna reports.

Commentator Merrill Matthews wonders why so many people think George Bush's agenda is "conservative." According to his dictionary, a conservative is one who resists change, but Bush and the Republicans are the ones calling for change and reform these days, not the Democrats and not the "liberals." From tax policy to education to the military, Bush and the Republicans are behaving like liberals and the Democrats with their resistance to change are acting more conservative.

Debbie Elliott reports that former smoker Grady Carter of Jacksonville has become the first person to actually collect money from the tobacco industry after beating a tobacco company in court over a smoking-related illness. Carter was awarded $750,000 by a jury in 1995. He received more than $1 million from Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. on Thursday as payment and interest.

Subway is very serious about its low-fat, healthy fast food ad campaign. So serious that the fast food chain and one of its franchises are suing a Michigan landlord for allowing a vegetarian health food bar to open next to a Subway sandwich shop. Subway says the nearby presence of a shop that sells things like carrot juice amounts to illegal competition. The health food bar says its customers and Subway's are very different. Quinn Klinefelter of WDET reports.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports that one of the new Bush administration priorities is the deployment of a controvertial national missile defence system. The exact nature of the missile defence system is subject to a strategic defence review which will be concluded this spring.

NPR's Steve Inskeep reports on the man who championed President Bush's tax cut in yesterday's House debate. Republican Bill Thomas, who authored the tax bill, provided its supporters with a lot of laughs and its critics with a lot of angst.

NPR's Pam Fessler reports on the impact of the first figures released from the 2000 census. An explosion of Hispanic and Asian populations in New Jersey, Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Virginia -- the first states to be reported -- is expected to transform politics and public policy at every level and in nearly every community. Figures from remaining states are to be released in the coming weeks.

NPR's Cheryl Corley reports that demand is rising for nutritious and professionally prepared meals -- in thehome -- and some people are hiring personal chefs to do the job.

NPR's Wade Goodwyn reports on an investigation in Austin, Texas, into large bonuses paid to law clerks of the state Supreme Court by wealthy private firms. The county attorney in Austin says these pay-outs might violate Texas bribery laws.

LA Times movie critic Kenneth Turan reviews the movie 15-Minutes, which opens nationally this weekend.

Grocery shopper and commentator Kelly Cresap has noticed that his favorite loaf of bread has gotten smaller. He says the food industry's practice of shrinking product sizes -- and maintaining prices -- keeps him guessing.

NPR's David Welna reports that the core of President Bush's tax cut plan has been approved by the House of Representatives. Ten Democrats broke ranks to join 220 Republicans in voting FOR the bill last night. But some supporters of the bill weren't altogether pleased -- they say it fails to address possible surplus shortfalls, and lacks a plan to pay off the national debt.