Them Hogs Is Hungry!

• Share

THE DEMOCRATIC PLAN

$900 billion

Democrats want a smaller income-tax cut, but what else? One option is trimming payroll taxes, which hit poor families harder than income taxes do. Dems are also toying with "triggers" that would let cuts kick in only if the surplus pans out

THE BUSH PLAN

$1.6 trillion

Bush cuts tax rates across the board, replacing five brackets with four, and doubles the child tax credit. He reduces the marriage penalty and kills the estate tax. But his price tag doesn't include making the cuts retroactive to Jan. 1, 2001

THE PORK PLAN

$2.9 trillion plus

Some Republicans and lobbyists have a wish list of corporate tax cuts and credits they are salivating to add — from expanded benefits for IRAs to write-offs for high-tech equipment. Others want a capital gains cut. Their appetites could add an extra $1.3 trillion or more