Well, it only took the Republicans in Congress 15 months, but they finally passed the 2005 tax cut reconciliation bill this evening. The House passed the bill last night by a vote of 224 - 185 and the Senate voted 54 - 44 tonight to approve it. Three Democrats (Ben Nelson (NE), Bill Nelson (FL), and Mark Pryor (AR)) joined 51 Republicans to pass the misguided tax bill that overwhelmingly benefits the super-rich and uses outrageous gimmicks to circumvent common-sense budget rules. Sen. Chafee (R-RI), Snowe (R-ME), and Voinovich (R-OH) joined with 41 Democrats to oppose the bill.

Last night the House passed the tax reconciliation bill by a vote of 224-185. Fifteen Democrats voted along with Republicans to pass these costly and regressive tax cuts. Two Republicans, Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Jim Leach (R-IA) placed fiscally responsible and compassionate votes by voting against this bill, which will cut almost $70 billion in taxes over the next five years. The Senate is expected to take up the bill today. An editorial in the Washington Post today makes a succinct point about this bill: