Instead of budgeting for more child care subsidies needed by working families or expanding health care coverage, Congress is hard at work on a tax package that gives the wealthiest households the bulk of new tax cuts. House and Senate Republicans have worked out which tax cuts will be included in the tax reconciliation package, a process that is filibuster-proof in the Senate.

An analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds that the bulk of the tax reconciliation tax cuts will flow mostly to the richest of the rich. Households with an average annual income of $35,940 will get a break of about $20 from this tax cut package. Millionaire households will of course get a much bigger tax break -- closer to $42,000.

Tax cuts that have bipartisan support in Congress, like research and development credits, tax credits for employers who hire low-income workers, and the sales tax deduction for individuals (all set to expire at the end of 2006) have been left out of the tax reconciliation process. They don't need filibuster protection and will presumably be introduced after the rich get their share.

The tax reconciliation bill is likely to be voted on within the next few weeks. It will add to the deficit and lock in refunds for the wealthiest while increasing the fiscal pressure to cut government programs that benefit low-income households.