Republicans load estate tax bill with popular breaks - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Republicans load estate tax bill with popular breaks - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "Republicans load estate tax bill with popular breaks

By Amy Fagan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
August 2, 2006

Republicans have loaded up the bill to reduce the estate tax with a minimum-wage increase and a host of popular tax breaks that Democrats will find painful to oppose, including help for teachers, miners and college students.
Several provisions target Democrats in tough races and Republicans want to make them instant issues in this year's elections. For example, the bill has provisions to allow mine operators to write off half their expenditures for safety equipment, and gives them tax credits for some mine-rescue-training programs. Another provision provides a tax deduction to the timber industry. "