The Estate Tax Cut/Minimum Wage Increase bill is an unusual case of legislative sausage making, with pieces that give policy gas to just about everyone. It's also unusual in that it's getting a lot of attention.

One of the lesser known pieces is a new entitlement program, which Sen. Judd Gregg criticized (Acrobat file) when it looked like it might be added to the pension bill.

Sen. Gregg notes that the measure would change the Abandoned Mine Land program "funding from discretionary to mandatory spending" and "increases direct spending by $4.9 billion over 10 years."

You can see CBO's cost estimate here (Acrobat file), at section III.

Another bad idea from the Republican Congress.