That's right--gifts--to the wealthy.  Perfect time of year, isn't it?  `Tis the season, after all, to re-gift the well-off.

The House voted Thursday to preserve tax cuts for investors through the rest of the decade, safeguarding the centerpiece of the Republican tax agenda in a $56 billion package of tax breaks.
The bill, passed 234-197 along mostly party lines, would keep the 15 percent top tax rate for capital gains and dividends in place in 2009 and 2010, two years after their scheduled disappearance at the end of 2008.

If you're interested in fact-checking before the Republicans begin their holiday spinning, see NPR's coverage or bonddad's previous post on tax cuts and the economy.

HOUSE STARTS VOTING TODAY ON BUDGET BILL

This evening the House rules committee announced it was DROPPING the planned invasion of the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve from their version of the budget bill.  You generated 12,000 submissions on that one issue alone, which may well have turned the tide.

Now we have to do at least that well in challenging the immoral plan of the right-wing tax cut maniacs to recoup SOME of the money for even further unconscionable gifts to their most wealthy cronies.  With supporters of the president's greed agenda dropping like flies in last Tuesday's election, there is a REAL opportunity for major policy change if we speak out now, especially with all members of the House up for re-election in just one year.

TELL CONGRESS TODAY: NO SOCIAL SERVICE CUTS!
ACTION PAGE: http://www.millionphonemarc h.com/no_cruelty.htm (Save our social services)