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07-15-2000

TAXES: Tax Cuts Gain Ground in Both Chambers

Congressional Republicans enjoyed a busy and successful week on the tax
relief front. By a solid 269-159 vote, the House on July 12 once again
approved a "marriage penalty" relief bill. The House also passed
the bill in February, but took it up again, this time under special
budget-reconciliation rules, because of the Senate's inability to break a
Democratic filibuster against the legislation in the spring.
Reconciliation rules protect against such delays, and the Senate planned
to pass the marriage penalty bill in short order. The Senate also headed
toward approval of an estate tax repeal measure that the House passed last
month. Passage of these popular tax cuts before the national political
conventions is part of the GOP strategy of pressuring President Clinton to
abandon his veto threats, especially in light of the new eye-popping
surplus estimates. Some Democrats acknowledged that Republicans seem to
have gained the upper hand for now, although they remained hopeful that
during the year-end wheeling and dealing, the tax cuts will become more
modest, leaving room for a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Stephen Norton/CongressDaily National Journal
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