the simple fact is the "reconciliation" tax legislation 2003 was passes without a single vote other than Republicans who were themselves the primary beneficiaries. Without any restraints to prevent future spending, their 2003 act was the primary cause of the soaring National Debt associated with the 07-09 Great Recession.
the Republican's believed the debt caused by their initiative would be solved by forcing spending cuts, Austerity that the Democrats would have no choice but to implement. But rather than the Republican objective the dominate Democrats use Keynesian Stimulus to curtail the Great Recession and were successful in June of 09.
now with a mending economy it is the Democrats that are calling on the Republicans that caused the National Debt to soar to pay back for what they caused.
the Republican plan was reversed by the Obama Administration and Democratic Congress and the 2012 elections will determine the final outcome.