Grassley's $68.8 billion tax package will face tough opposition in the Senate Finance Committee, and there is a chance the measure will be stalled in committee due to the opposition of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME). Snowe specifically objects to the extension of the tax cut in dividends, and views the inclusion, along with other Democrats, as unnecessary. If Snowe votes with the Democrats, the measure will stall in committee. Ranking member Max Baucus (D-MT) said he doubts Grassley has the votes to approve the package. New York Times: Tax Proposal By G.O.P. Would cut $70 Billion (11.9.2005)

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has done something many of us wish Senators would do more often -- propose to tell the truth. Lautenberg has filed an amendment to change the official name of the "Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act 2005" to the "Moral Disaster of Monumental Proportion Reconciliation Act." Lautenberg said "Let's call this bill what it is -- a moral disaster." And that it certainly is. His amendment probably won't pass, but I think many of us appreciate his attempt to call the bill as it is, as opposed to trying to disguise it as an attempt at fiscal responsibility.

The Senate approved a slightly amended budget reconciliation spending bill this evening by a vote of 52 - 47. The Senate considered 20 amendments throughout the day and adopted three of them before the vote on final passage. The bill would cut $39.1 billion from entitlement spending.

Today the House Budget Committee passed a $53.9 billion reconciliation bill to cut spending. The Committee approved the bill 21-16, and it will most likely go to the floor next week. The House approved a bill even though it contains a provision - long favored by conservatives - to split in half the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in San Francisco, CA.