OMB Watch has prepared a chart comparing the many tax bills introduced to help charities. 107th Congress: Proposed Legislation on Charitable Giving Bill Number Sponsor Non-itemizer Deduction IRA Rollover Carry Over Capital Gains Property Increase Deduction Limits Expand Deduction for Food Donation of Land or Easements Art, Medical, Education Other Issues S 35 Title VI Gramm Phased in, no floor. Deduct up to amount of standard deduction At 59 1/2     Increase corporate ceiling from 10% of income to 15%       Tax Cuts S. 205 Hutchinson   At 59 1/2         S. 298 McConnell

Jim Towey takes over the Faith-Based office after a year of false starts and legislative stagnation. One of the administration's original plans, direct government funding of religious institutions' social service work, has proven to be an extremely controversial issue, and has held up legislation that would provide more donations for charities.

Amendments that would protect nonpartisan communications by charities were recently submitted by OMB Watch to Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA), co-sponsors of campaign finance reform legislation in the House of Representatives (HR 380). In separate meetings over the past few weeks both Shays and Meehan expressed general agreement with concerns raised by representatives of 501(c)(3) organizations, but said specific changes would have to be carefully reviewed to ensure that no new loopholes are created.