Senate Republican leaders are criticizing a bipartisan budget deal that their House counterparts shepherded through that chamber last week.

The split makes it harder for the Republican Party to present a united front as it approaches the midterm election year. And it shows that even modest tweaks in tax and spending policies trigger strong reactions in conservative circles.

But senators in both parties say the budget deal should have enough votes to pass and become law. And some GOP activists play down the implications of the House-Senate divide. They say it's driven by internal congressional politics more than by serious philosophical splits.

It's not unusual for the minority party in the House or Senate to force the other party to provide the overwhelming majority of votes for contentious legislation.