As discussed in newspapers across the country, support for preserving the President's costly $726 billion tax cut package (misnamed the "Growth Package") is weakening. On March 25, the Senate voted to shrink the $726 billion package down to $350 billion. (In an earlier vote, the House passed the full $726 billion tax cut - and more than $260 billion in cuts to veterans' assistance, Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps and other programs - in a very close vote, 215-212.)

In a move viewed by many as truly outrageous, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) introduced an amendment to the Senate Budget Committee’s budget resolution on March 19 – the day the country committed itself to billions of dollars for the war and its aftermath in Iraq – to accelerate the repeal of the estate tax by one year.

On March 7, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its annual report analyzing the effects on revenue and spending of the President’s budget proposals. The report was yet another blow to the President’s proposals for additional tax cuts.