How much is Washington costing you?

[Troubleshooter]

http://washingtonwatch.com/ww/billlst.php

The proposals before Congress have long-term effects on our nation's budget — and potentially yours.

Bills pending in Congress right now are listed below, along with estimates about their costs or savings.

To learn more information, participate in a forum, or take action, click on the name of the bill.

S. 119 would change federal immigration procedures as they relate to certain unauthorized alien children under age 18 who are in the United States without a legal parent or guardian. This bill would authorize funding to establish a pilot program at three sites that would assign legal guardians to such children. The legislation also would provide free legal counsel for all children during their immigration proceedings.

Cost per person: $0.02

S. 667, the Personal Responsibility and Individual Development for Everyone (PRIDE) Act would: Reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program at current funding levels (it would increase funding for some grants and establish several new grants, but also would eliminate funding for other related grants); Increase funding for child care programs and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), and continue funding abstinence education programs; Make several changes to eligibility rules relating to the earned income credit and various child-related tax benefits; Make several changes to the child support enforcement program, including allowing the distribution to families of more collections from child support payments; Increase funding for the foster care program for Puerto Rico and for Indian tribes; Require the Social Security Administration (SSA) to change its system of reviewing awards to certain disabled adults in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and extend the eligibility of certain refugees for benefits in the SSI program; and Extend by five years the requirement that state Medicaid programs provide transitional medical assistance (TMA) to certain Medicaid beneficiaries and allow states to simplify aspects of TMA administration. S. 667 would extend the TANF and child care programs through 2010. Those programs are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2005. S. 667 also would authorize appropriations for new grant programs and for the administration of new functions in the SSI program.

Cost per person: $335.34

[xoxoxoBruce]

Couldn't stay on that site very long....got ravenously hungry. Must have been the smell of all that pork.

[richlevy]

Bush Ally in House Alters Social Security Debate Strategy

Well, for those who wondered how far Bush would go to sell private accounts, the answer is 'as far as necessary'. It appears he has engaged the services of the porkmeister.

There will be a little something for everyone. The only people not represented will be the average citizen. I especially love the statment "At the end of the day, we want a package that has private accounts but doesn't increase taxes." So in order to pay for private accounts, we should add to the deficit or slash benefits.

With President Bush's top domestic priority fading fast, Republicans once again have turned to one of their least liked but most effective colleagues: Rep. Bill Thomas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The California Republican saved President Bush's tax cut in 2003, has never lost a vote on the floor and, despite resistance among other House GOP leaders, is poised once again to try to revive the president's proposal to add personal investment accounts to Social Security.

His maneuver has undercut White House and House hopes that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) would assume the pivotal role in drafting changes to the Social Security program and has ignited a lobbying frenzy.

Life insurers are determined to prevent the legislation from being so generous with its savings incentives that it reduces the market for life-insurance products. Airlines want Thomas's measure to include pension-law changes that would make it easier for them and other troubled industries to get out from under huge retirement responsibilities from their former employees. And retailers are busy making sure that a sales or value-added tax is not part of the section in Thomas's legislation that pays for the Social Security and savings incentive sections.

"The good news is the battle has begun; reform is in play," said Dirk Van Dongen, president of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, a supporter of Bush's personal accounts plan. "Now you have to watch out for the 'be-careful-what-you-wish-for' rule. At the end of the day, we want a package that has private accounts but doesn't increase taxes."

[xoxoxoBruce]

Pass the Astroglide, please.