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House OKs GOP Measure on Estate Tax WASHINGTON- The Republican-controlled House voted Thursday to permanently repeal the estate tax, turning aside a Democratic effort to retain the tax but limit its impact to a few thousand of the very wealthy. The GOP bill, passed on a bipartisan 256-171 vote, would remove the Jan. 1, 2011, expiration or "sunset" date that blocks permanent repeal under current law. The entire 10-year, $1.35 trillion tax cut enacted one year ago this week - including repeal of the estate tax - will disappear in 2011 because of an arcane Senate budget rule. Senate Democrats...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 April 4 Ikeya-Zhang: Comet Over Colorado Credit & Copyright: Jimmy Westlake (Colorado Mountain College) Explanation: Comet Ikeya-Zhang ("ee-KAY-uh JONG") has become a most photogenic comet. This lovely early evening view of the comet in Rocky Mountain skies looks northwest over ridges and low clouds. The time exposure was recorded on March 31st from an 8,000 foot elevation near Yampa, Colorado, USA. Sporting a sweeping yellowish dust tail...