1.   A tax exemption in many cases is economically and functionally indistinguishable from a direct monetary subsidy.

2.   Businesses like tax breaks because, unlike spending programs and direct subsidies, they are outside the federal budget and therefore not subject to annual review by Congress.

3.   But does Chile pay a direct subsidy, such as we give to the exporters of milk powder?

4.   Democrats criticized Bush for not offering more to the mayors in the form of direct housing subsidies, and on gun control.

5.   For starters, the President and Congress can no longer ignore the scores of billions wasted each year on direct subsidies to business.

6.   However, Democrats want a direct subsidy to help jobless workers buy health insurance.

7.   If the American taxpayer finances them, this would be a direct subsidy to the arms industry.

8.   In eastern Germany, local officials have labored mightily to blend tax breaks with direct subsidies from Bonn.

9.   Proposals abound in Congress to provide child care tax breaks or direct subsidies, including Republican proposals to help stay-at-home mothers.

10.   States pay a big portion of the cost of higher education, through direct subsidies to state colleges and financial aid.