House Votes to Keep Alternative Tax at Bay

The House voted today to enact a one-year stay of the alternative minimum tax, a measure originally designed to ensure that rich Americans paid their share but has increasingly placed a burden on the middle class, the New York Times reports. President Bush has said he'll sign the legislation, which could save 21 million taxpayers $2,000 on their 2007 returns.

The bill faced opposition from fiscally conservative Democrats, who wanted to add taxes to make up for the $50 billion the AMT would’ve provided if left unchanged. One Congressman had threatened to keep lawmakers in session through Christmas, but in the end 157 Democrats were among the bill's 352-64 margin of passage. (More Congress stories.)