SPENDING
State aid: The Senate bill has $39 billion in education aid to states. The House measure has $54 billion. It also includes a separate $25 billion block grant for states to use on other programs. Direct aid to individuals: The Senate devotes $17 billion for onetime $300 payments to Social Security recipients, poor people on Supplemental Security Income, and veterans receiving disability and pensions. The House has $4 billion to provide a onetime additional SSI payment to poor elderly and disabled people of $450 for individuals and $630 for married couples. School construction: The House provides $19.5 billion to build and repair school and university facilities. The money was deleted from the Senate bill.TAXES
Alternative minimum tax: The Senate devotes $70 billion to "patch" the alternative minimum tax, saving more than 20 million taxpayers a 2009 tax increase averaging about $2,000. The House bill does not include that provision. Homebuyer tax credit: The Senate provides $35.5 billion for a $15,000 tax credit for purchasers of homes bought in the year after the bill takes effect. The House includes $2.6 billion and limits its smaller $7,500 credit to first-time homebuyers for homes purchased from Jan. 1 to July 1 and phases out the credit for couples making more than $150,000. Car buyer tax deduction: The Senate devotes $11 billion to make interest payments on loans for new cars and automobile sales taxes deductible. The House bill does not.
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