The Nation - News from June 13, 1989

Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, served notice in a letter to colleagues that he will oppose addition of special tax breaks for selected individuals or businesses to any legislation written by the panel this year. It has been almost routine for years for members of the Finance and House Ways and Means committees to attach amendments benefiting one or two individuals or businesses to general tax bills. The beneficiaries were seldom named in the bills. The practice was all but abandoned in 1988, apparently because of the public outcry that followed inclusion of special breaks in the 1986 tax overhaul.