The Nation : House Panelists Fail to Resolve Tax Bill

House Ways and Means Committee Democrats made no progress as they continued to consider their options for piecing together a $12-billion tax package to meet this year’s Gramm-Rudman deficit-reduction target. They set aside many of the revenue-raising options that had been considered and rejected in last year’s tax-overhaul debate. Thus far, the Democrats have agreed on only $6.3 billion, and House Republicans have refused to take part in the deliberations. The Senate Finance Committee also met and made little progress in putting together its own package.