October 8, 1999. "The tax bill Congress approved in August and the President subsequently vetoed ('The Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act of 1999') includes a number of pension tax provisions, including provisions related to employer-provided pensions as well as to individual retirement accounts. Some or all of the provisions may be included with the minimum wage legislation soon to be considered by the House of Representatives. These provisions are ostensibly intended to expand pension coverage among working Americans. But although the pension provisions in the tax bill include several beneficial reforms, their principal impact would be to institute a major expansion of pension-related tax preferences for high-income individuals. Furthermore, some of the provisions could lead to a reduction in pension coverage among lower-income workers and those employed by small businesses."  MORE >>