OMB Watch has published an op-ed, "The Ultimate Special Interest," in today's issue of tompaine.com. The op-ed delves into the details behind today's House vote on the budget reconciliation measure. The bill not only includes "draconian cuts" to human needs services, but when taken with the reconciliation tax bill it actually raises the deficit, completely defeating the GOP's argument that the bill is needed in order to combat massive spending.

Late last night House GOP leaders removed language from the budget reconciliation bill on both drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and allowing for offshore oil drilling. Both provisions were widely opposed by House GOP moderates, and the move was made in an effort to pick up votes for the bill, which cuts mandatory spending by $54 billion over the next five years. The provisions were stripped after pressure from the moderates, twenty-six of whom sent a letter to the leadership November 8, arguing their position.

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)

John Irons, Director of Tax and Budget Policy at the Center for American Progress has released the following statement on "first impressions" of the President's Tax Reform Panel recommendations to the Treasure Department. Overall, Irons shares the concerns of many other experts in that the recommendations of the panel, while a good starting point, run the risk of being "cherry-picked for those components that fit this administration’s narrow, ideological goals; and the hard choices that the commission had to make to achieve revenue and distribution neutrality may simply be ignored."