WASHINGTON – The House killed a Democratic drive Tuesday to make it tougher for lawmakers to reduce taxes as Republicans by the slimmest of margins rescued President Bush’s tax-cutting agenda from an embarrassing rebuke.

The 209-209 tally – one shy of the majority Democrats needed to win – came only after the chamber’s GOP leaders held the roll call open an extra 23 minutes so they could coax several Republicans to switch their votes.

Eleven Republicans, mostly moderates from the Northeast and Midwest, voted for the nonbinding Democratic provision, which urged House budget negotiators to accept Senate-approved curbs on new tax cuts or benefit increases. Democratic Reps. Tom Allen and Mike Michaud of Maine voted for the provision.