Republicans load estate tax bill with popular breaks

[Omaha Steve]

Full 2 page story: http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060801-105232-3351r.htm

Republicans load estate tax bill with popular breaks

By Amy Fagan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
August 2, 2006

Republicans have loaded up the bill to reduce the estate tax with a minimum-wage increase and a host of popular tax breaks that Democrats will find painful to oppose, including help for teachers, miners and college students.
Several provisions target Democrats in tough races and Republicans want to make them instant issues in this year's elections. For example, the bill has provisions to allow mine operators to write off half their expenditures for safety equipment, and gives them tax credits for some mine-rescue-training programs. Another provision provides a tax deduction to the timber industry.

A Senate Republican aide said the timber and mining tax breaks target two Democrats running for re-election in states where those industries play a major role in the economy -- Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, respectively.
"There's a lot of 30-second ads waiting to happen in this bill," the aide said.
Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said that Republicans are in a win-win situation, because if the bill fails, Democrats will have to vote to "kill" a minimum-wage increase and many popular tax breaks.

[LincolnMcGrath]

1. Breaking News! Dem leaders still keeping their powder dry.....

[flobee1]

2. Now is the time

tack on a bill that will make the Repubs puke

something that the american people love and the republicans hate
mabey a bill to fund biodeisel?

[Cobalt Violet]

3. And it lowers the minimum wage to $2.15 an hour for lots of people.

How pathetic.