NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/08/politics/08cnd-cong.html?ex=1134709200&en=5ae4ce9bef635235&ei=5009&partner=MSN_NYTHOMEDespite Deficit, House Approves $56 Billion in Tax Cuts
By EDMUND L. ANDREWS
Published: December 8, 2005
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 - The House of Representatives passed the last and biggest portion of $95 billion in tax cuts today, a move that reflected the willingness to place tax cuts above the risk of higher budget deficits in years to come.
Voting 234 to 197, almost purely along party lines, the House approved $56 billion in tax cuts over five years, just one day after it passed other tax cuts totaling $39 billion over five years. The biggest provision would extend President Bush's 2001 tax cut for stock dividends and capital gains for two years at a cost of $20 billion. All of the House's maverick Republican conservatives, who had criticized their party leaders two months ago for being too soft about spending cuts, voted enthusiastically for the tax cuts, which add up to nearly twice as much as the spending cuts passed last month.
"Clearly, tax relief is part of the deficit solution, not part of the problem," said Representative Jeb Hensarling, Republican of Texas and one of the mavericks.
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Democrats accused the Republican majority of expanding tax cuts to the nation's very richest families while cutting programs to help the poor.
"The choice is clear - tax relief that goes to people making a million bucks or more, and cutting student loans, cutting food support for people who need it and cutting child support," said Representative Sander Levin, Democrat of Michigan.