Durbin, Kirk meet in the middle to vote for tax deal

Illinois' two senators met in the middle Wednesday to vote in favor of legislation that would extend rapidly expiring tax cuts to Americans at every income level.

The measure, with the help of Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and Republican Sen. Mark Kirk's yea votes, passed the chamber 81-19 early Wednesday afternoon. It now heads to the House, where President Barack Obama has urged quick action.

The $858 billion legislation paid for by adding to the nation's deficit would extend tax cuts first instituted under President George W. Bush for the next two years, renew jobless benefits for the unemployed and cut Social Security taxes for a year. It also would raise the amount of money exempted from being taxed in a deceased person's estate to $5 million, and would tax the rest at 35 percent.

Obama announced early last week that he'd negotiated a compromise with Republicans who will take control of the House in January and pick up a number of seats in the Senate.

In turn, Senate Republicans signed a pledge to take no action on any legislation until the tax compromise had passed.

House Democrats who sought a tax extension for individuals making less $200,000 and couples less than $250,000 have balked at the deal, particularly the estate-tax provision.

Kirk has long been a supporter of such a compromise.

Durbin Wednesday admitted frankly that there were parts of the agreement that he didn't like at all.

“The idea of tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America for a handful of people to benefit in my point of view that was not only necessary and unfair, it only adds to the deficit. But it's the nature of the compromise to give a little bit on both sides. We now have a package that has been put together that I think is a positive move forward,” he said.

House Democrats said they are considering a vote to impose the higher estate tax, perhaps as an amendment to the package. Regardless of that amendment's passage, Democratic insiders say the compromise is expected to pass, albeit by narrower margins.

Congresswoman Judy Biggert, a Hinsdale Republican, said she doesn't look at the deal as simply a win for Republicans.

“It was a compromise. I wanted to see that it was permanent, so we wouldn't have to go through this again in 2012.”

Still, she said, she considers the deal “a win for the economy. I think this is a good start. It's the first time the president has sat down with Republicans to (work) things out.”

$PHOTOCREDIT_ON$Daily Herald news services contributed to this report.$PHOTOCREDIT_OFF$