According to Factcheck.org regarding this item to cut:
* Eliminate death gratuity for Members of Congress.
A death gratuity is paid to the surviving spouse and/or children of a member of Congress who dies in office. The amount is equal to a years pay, according to the Congressional Research Service. For example, a $136,700 payment was added to a fiscal year 2000 appropriations bill for the wife of Rep. George E. Brown Jr., of California, a Democrat who served 18 terms in Congress (four from 1963-1971 and 14 from 1973-1999, when he died).
Separate legislation, including a bill sponsored by Rep. Bill Posey of Florida, has been proposed to eliminate the death gratuity. No action has been taken on that bill, either.
I sure hope the taxpayers aren't supporting that freak of nature offspring of Sonny Bono.