Washington, D.C.
The White House this week urged the House of Representatives to give low-income families a piece of the $350 billion tax cut. During final negotiations over the cut, congressional Republicans deliberately excluded families making between $10,500 and $27,000 a year from an increase in the tax credit for children. That omission caused an uproar, with Democrats accusing Republicans and the president of heartlessness. Aides said President Bush supported extending the tax credit to families that pay no taxes as a way to help millions of “struggling” parents “work up the economic ladder.” The Senate quickly passed a bill adding poor families to the tax cut, but House Republicans promised a fight. “It’s a little difficult to give tax relief to people who don’t pay income taxes,” said House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
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