Congress extends Bush tax cuts for middle class

Congress last night passed legislation extending some of President Bush’s most-popular middle-class tax cuts — giving Mr. Bush a win heading into the final campaign stretch before Election Day.

“It is, I think, a significant and timely agreement that will prevent tax increases on millions of Americans and their families,” said Rep. Bill Thomas, California Republican and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York, the top Democrat on Mr. Thomas’ committee, offered his sarcastic agreement.

“This is timely,” he said. “It’s on the eve of an election.”

The House overwhelmingly passed the measure by a vote of 339-65, with 125 Democrats including Mr. Rangel joining 213 Republicans and the House’s lone independent in support. All 65 votes against the bill were cast by Democrats.

The Senate promptly followed suit, passing the bill by a 92-3 vote.

The three senators who voted against the bill were Republicans Olympia J. Snowe of Maine and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, and Ernest F. Hollings, South Carolina Democrat. All five nonvoting senators were Democrats.

The bill totals $146 billion in tax cuts and was crafted by Mr. Thomas and Republican leaders in the House and Senate, led by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican.

“It’s about providing tax relief to hard-working families,” Mr. Grassley said of the bill, while adding strong praise for Mr. Bush.

“The president made middle-income tax relief a priority,” he said. “We wouldn’t be here today without the leadership of our president.”

Mr. Bush praised Congress for passing the bill, saying the tax cuts will help families and the economy. After the vote, he also pushed for the day when his tax cuts will be made permanent, not just extended.

“This legislation will give families and small businesses added certainty and keep us on the path to greater prosperity, and it brings us one step closer to making the tax relief permanent,” Mr. Bush said.

With the election just around the corner, the pressure was on members of both chambers to support the tax relief.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat in a close re-election race, criticized the bill because its $146 billion value is not offset in any way, but in the end, he supported it.

“This bill is far from where it ought to be,” he said, concluding later that it will help middle-class families so, “in spite of its flaws, it deserves our support.”

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