Washington ? Triumphant Republicans will control Congress’ budget and economic agenda next year, but something else comes with it: stewardship of reborn federal deficits and the ailing economy, plus the lion’s share of the blame if anything goes wrong.

Having captured House and Senate majorities on Election Day, Republicans will have to show how they would shoehorn new tax cuts and extra spending for defense and other priorities into a budget that ran a $159 billion shortfall last year.

Unlike this year, there won’t be a Democratic-run Senate for Republicans to blame should deficits grow, the economy worsen, legislation stall or spending exceed what President Bush wants. Two of their favorite Senate targets won’t even be in their current jobs: Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., won’t be majority leader, and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., won’t chair the Appropriations Committee.

“The voters are going to hold Republicans responsible for the budget and the economy,” said Brian Riedl, a fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation.

GOP leaders already are mapping their budget priorities. High on the list are an economic stimulus package anchored by fresh tax cuts and a drive to make permanent the 10-year, $1.35 trillion tax reduction enacted in 2001.