Charity Tax Breaks May Languish in Congress

By Elizabeth Schwinn

President Bush's effort to persuade Congress to pass tax cuts to stimulate the economy may steal attention from long-sought charitable tax incentives, charity representatives say.

Among the tax incentives that charities had hoped would pass this year: a plan to allow people who do not itemize their taxes to deduct gifts to charity. The Senate Finance Committee remains committed to passing such a write-off, charity representatives say, but members of the House Ways and Means Committee,