Berkley Estate Tax Bill Would Add Billions to Deficit While Benefiting Only Wealthiest 1 in 500 Estates — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

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By Chuck Marr and Gillian Brunet

A new estate tax bill introduced by Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and others would cost $119 billion more over the first decade (2012-2021) than extending the tax under its current rules as the President has proposed, yet would benefit only the nation’s wealthiest 0.2 percent of estates since they are the only ones subject to the tax under the current rules. In subsequent decades, the Berkley proposal (H.R. 3905) would be even more expensive compared to extending the current estate tax rules; the proposal keeps its cost down in the initial years by phasing in its estate tax cuts over a decade, with its full costs not showing up until after 2019.

Ultimately, the Berkley proposal would increase deficits and debt by nearly as much as a proposal by Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ), which it mirrors once it is phased in fully.[1] Like the Lincoln-Kyl proposal, the Berkley bill would eventually allow wealthy individuals to pass on $5 million per person — $10 million per couple — to their heirs tax-free and would cut the tax rate that applies to the taxable portion of estates from 45 percent to 35 percent.
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• Estate tax exemption hike, rate cut (dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com)

Lawmakers, White House Consider Bipartisan Route To Bend Health 'Cost Curve' - Kaiser Health News

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By Eric Pianin

Amid growing signs that health care overhaul legislation will do little to "bend the cost curve" in the coming decade, lawmakers and administration officials are considering tougher steps to rein in costly entitlement programs and address mounting concerns about soaring deficits.

One approach attracting widespread attention calls for the creation of a bipartisan commission to draft proposals to control the long-term costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Together, the three programs account for 40 percent of all federal spending, other than interest on the debt.

The recommendations of the proposed commission would command a swift up or down vote by Congress. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, the chief authors of the proposal, say they may attempt to attach it to must-pass legislation raising the government's debt ceiling in the coming weeks.
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H.R. 3906: To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Veterans... (GovTrack.us)

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs program to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.

Sponsor: Rep. Harry Teague [D-NM2]
Cosponsors:

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Status:
Introduced Oct 22, 2009
Referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs

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Medicare Update: Senate Finance Committee Releases Legislative Language of America's Healthy Future Act

On October 19, 2009, the Senate Finance Committee released the actual legislative language of the America's Health Future Act of 2009 (Act), which will reportedly be known as S.1796.

The Act is 1502 pages in length.

Senate Democratic leaders may now work to combine the Act with the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee's Affordable Health Choices Act, which the HELP Committee approved in July 2009.

Read/Download America's Health Future Act of 2009

H.R. 3776: Helping Make Health Insurance Affordable for Individuals and Small Businesses Act of 2009 (GovTrack.us)

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To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a 100 percent deduction for the health insurance costs of individua
Sponsor: Rep. Samuel Graves [R-MO6]
Cosponsors: none

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Status:
Introduced Oct 8, 2009
Referred to Ways and Means Committee

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Washington Update: Pelosi, Labor and the Public Option - Health Blog - WSJ

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By Jacob Goldstein

Now that you’ve had a chance to read every page of yesterday’s CBO estimates of the Senate Finance bill, here’s a roundup of what’s happening in the Washington health-care debate. Today’s familiar theme: The public option.
. . . .
Meanwhile, back in the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she’ll send three versions of a health-care bill to the CBO for analysis. One, supported by many liberal Dems, will have a public option with payment rates set 5% higher than Medicare, the Washington Post says. The two others, supported by some moderate Dems who say Medicare plus 5% isn’t enough, would have the new-government backed plan negotiate rates with providers.
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S. 1756: A bill to amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to clarify the appropriate... (GovTrack.us)

A bill to amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to clarify the appropriate standard of proof.

Sponsor: Sen. Thomas Harkin [D-IA]
Cosponsors: Barbara Boxer [D-CA], Sherrod Brown [D-OH], Benjamin Cardin [D-MD], Christopher Dodd [D-CT], Richard Durbin [D-IL], Dianne Feinstein [D-CA],Al Franken [D-MN], Edward Kaufman [D-DE], Herbert Kohl [D-WI], Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ], Patrick Leahy [D-VT], Jeff Merkley [D-OR], Bill Nelson [D-FL], Bernard Sanders [I-VT], Charles Schumer [D-NY], Arlen Specter [D-PA]

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Status:
Introduced Oct 6, 2009
Referred to Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
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S. 1752: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to... (GovTrack.us)

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A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson's disease.

Sponsor: Sen. Bernard Sanders [I-VT]
Cosponsors: none

Text

Status:

Introduced Oct 5, 2009
Referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs

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Bill Updates

Health Affairs Blog:Can Slumping Support For Health Care Reform Be Turned Around?

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by S. Ward Casscells and Hiliary Critchley

When polled at the end of September, fewer than three in ten Americans supported the health reform legislation being considered by the Senate Finance Committee. However, we also found respondents willing to engage in the health reform discussion by reading a detailed summary of the Finance Committee bill plus ten potential amendments.

In our survey, the first in which Americans were given an opportunity to “design the bill themselves,” we found that the adoption of three amendments to the Finance Committee package had the potential to significantly change public attitudes toward the bill.

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S. 1740: A bill to promote the economic security and safety of victims of domestic violence, dating... (GovTrack.us)

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A bill to promote the economic security and safety of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Patty Murray [D-WA]
Cosponsors: Sherrod Brown [D-OH], Christopher Dodd [D-CT]

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Status:

Occurred: Introduced Oct 1, 2009
Occurred: Referred to Committee

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H.R. 3700: To establish requirements for any health reform legislation enacted by the Congress or the... (GovTrack.us)

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To establish requirements for any health reform legislation enacted by the Congress or the President during the 111th Congress.

Sponsor: Rep. John Gingrey [R-GA11]
Cosponsors:

Text

Status:

Introduced Oct 1, 2009
Referred to Committee on Energy and Commerce

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H.R. 3688: To encourage programs of health promotion or disease prevention (GovTrack.us)

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Sponsor: Rep. Michael Arcuri [D-NY24]
Cosponsors: Stephen Buyer [R-IN4],Michael Castle [R-DE], Nathan Deal [R-GA9], Joe Donnelly [D-IN2], Jared Polis [D-CO2]

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Status:
Introduced Oct 1, 2009
Referred to Ways and Means Committee

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Senate Finance Committee Releases Amended Version of America's Healthy Future Act

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On October 2, 2009, the Senate Finance Committee released an amended version of the chairman's mark of the America's Healthy Future Act of 2009.

Read/Download Amended Bill

H.R. 3557: To provide an emergency cost-of-living increase for Social Security benefits for 2010 (GovTrack.us)

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Sponsor: Rep. Walter Jones [R-NC3]
(no cosponsors)

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Status:

Occurred: Introduced Sep 14, 2009
Occurred: Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

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H.R. 3572: COLA Assistance Act of 2009 (GovTrack.us)

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To provide a cost-of-living increase for Social Security benefits for 2010 of 2.9 percent.

Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Alexander [R-LA5](no cosponsors)

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Status:

Occurred: Introduced Sep 15, 2009
Occurred: Referred to Committee on Committee on Ways and Means.

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S. Res. 276: A resolution designating September 22, 2009, as "National Falls Prevention Awareness Day" (GovTrack.us)

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Sponsor: Sen. Herbert Kohl [D-WI]
Cosponsors: Robert Casey [D-PA],Michael Enzi [R-WY],Barbara Mikulski [D-MD],Patty Murray [D-WA],Bernard Sanders [I-VT]

Status:

Occurred: Introduced Sep 21, 2009
Occurred: Passed Senate Sep 21, 2009

This resolution has been passed in the Senate, which is the end of the legislative process for simple resolutions. The resolution now takes effect. [Last Updated: Sep 22, 2009 12:02PM]

Last Action:
Sep 21, 2009: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

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GovTrack: Senate Record: WORLD ALZHEIMER'S DAY (111-s20090921-14)

from Congressional Record

Mr. President, on World Alzheimer's Day, it is important that we pause to consider the devastating impact of this debilitating disease and the importance of scientific research into its causes, effects, and treatment.

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Health Care Reform in Senate Finance Committee - Health Blog - WSJ

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By Jacob Goldstein

It took Sen. Max Baucus forever to come out with a proposed health care bill. And from the looks of things, whatever bill finally emerges from the Senate Finance Committee may not bear much resemblance to what Baucus proposed last week.

For a sample of what’s to come, check out the committee’s legislation page, which includes a whopping 564 proposed amendments spread over three categories (”reforming the health care delivery system,” “expanding health care coverage” and the ever-popular “financing comprehensive health care reform.”)

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Medicare Update: Senate Finance Committee Releases Draft Amendments to America's Healthy Future Act

The Senate Finance Committee has released the draft amendments that have been submitted (so far) to the chairman's mark of the America's Healthy Future Act of 2009. The amendments and lists of amendments can be found through the following links:

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Senate Finance Panel Members Seek Health Plan Changes (Update1) - Bloomberg.com

Senate Finance Committee members of both parties signaled an aggressive effort to reshape health- care legislation proposed by Chairman Max Baucus, drafting 564 amendments for consideration when the panel meets next week.

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