| The Human Needs Report is the Coalition on Human Needs' newsletter on national policy issues affecting low-income and vulnerable populations. It is published every other week while Congress is in session. If you would like to receive the Human Needs Report sign up here. - Budget Conference Committee to Contemplate Deep Cuts to Human Needs Programs
Informal negotiations between the House and Senate on a final federal budget for fiscal year 2006 have already started, with the aim of producing a conference agreement that can clear both chambers. The race for a budget cleared a hurdle on March 17 when both the House and Senate passed separate budget resolutions.
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- House Votes to Permanently Repeal Estate Tax; Multi-Millionaires to Benefit
On Wednesday, April 13, the House voted to repeal the estate tax permanently by a vote of a 272 to 162. Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) sponsored H.R. 8, which will cost $290 billion over the next ten years. The bill is not paid for, and so will deepen the deficit and/or add pressure to cut government services.
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- President Pushes Ahead on Privatization; Opposition to Rally April 26
The Senate Finance Committee, which is chaired by Senator Grassley of Iowa and which will handle any Social Security overhaul, will hold a hearing on proposals on Tuesday, April 26. Americans United to Protect Social Security (AUPSS), the group formed to oppose privatization, is organizing rallies in over 30 states that day to show support for Social Security in its current form. A rally is also planned near the U.S. Capitol that day at 1 pm at the Upper Senate Park (at the intersection of Delaware and Constitution Avenues, NE). AUPSS is asking progressive organizations in Washington to promote attendance to ensure that the rally receives as much attention as possible.
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- Budget Politics Intrude on TANF
Budget politics has intruded upon congressional efforts to reauthorize Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. After the Senate Finance Committee approved its PRIDE bill on a bipartisan basis (see the April 1 Human Needs Report ), Senate Budget Chairman Judd Gregg (R-NH) threatened to derail further work on the legislation because the costs were higher than limits he had in mind for the legislation. He is asking for spending cuts to offset more of the increases contained in the legislation. The Finance Committee had operated under the assumption that it could act much as it had last year – finding offsets for the amount increased for child care beyond $1 billion over 5 years, but not needing to pay for other increases in the bill.
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