By a 15-14 vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee this week OK'ed the $21.8 billion Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill, H.R. 2829, over GOP complaints that it would essentially cut the IRS private debt collection program. The bill provides a mere $1 million for the program for FY 2008 -- down by about $250 million from FY 2007. Democrats question the program's efficacy and cost, and cite concerns about the potential for abusive practices stemming from bounty-hunters' private possession of citizens' financial information. If adopted in its current form by the Senate, the bill would go to conference, where this provision would need to be worked out. Last month, this provision was removed from the House bill on procedural grounds.