Grapevine

By DAVID ELLIS/

GET THAT CRUMB OFF THE TABLE. George Bush has still not forgiven Dick Gephardt for his personal crusade against capital-gains tax cuts last year. So it was no surprise when congressional leaders were summoned to the White House and the House majority leader didn't get an invitation. Mindful of the snubbing, Speaker Tom Foley has named Gephardt to lead the congressional conferees at the budget summit, so whenever Bush is present he will have to face his least favorite politician.

With reporting by David E. Thigpen