The congressional lame duck session resumed Dec. 5 as the 109th Congress returned to work on a set of long-deferred tax and budget items. However, Congress will likely postpone action on the bulk of these issues until the next session and quickly pass a continuing resolution (CR) that will last until early 2007. The Budget

Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) admitted last week the Senate was unlikely to pass any permanent reduction to the estate tax in 2006, despite repeated attempts and rhetorical ultimatums from Frist and his allies.

During the current campaign season, both Democrats and Republicans have allowed election-year rhetoric to distort the true nature and outcomes of current tax policy. The administration and Republicans across the country assert that Democrats plan to raise taxes for most citizens and that these "tax increases" would devastate the economy. At a recent campaign rally in Colorado, Bush was direct in asserting this view: And the American people must understand the facts; if you vote Democrat you're voting for a tax increase.