Families are among the most prominent beneficiaries of the package, which is supposed to come into effect as of 2010 but still requires approval of the Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament.

The legislation increases government support payments to families by 20 euros ($30) per month. That translates to a total of 184 euros per child for families with up to two children, 190 euros for a third child, and 215 euros a month for subsequent children.

Businesses are also addressed by the bill and will be able to extend tax deductions and firms in the process of restructuring will also be able to claim back some of the costs.

Controversial cuts

Some of the more controversial tax cuts apply to beneficiaries of wills and gifts, as well as the hotel industry. Sales tax on hotel bookings is to decrease from the standard 19 percent for most goods and services to 7 percent.

The opposition criticized the measures as arbitrary. The Social Democrats said tax deductions for children disproportionately benefitted higher-income families.

But Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition of conservative Christian Democrats and free-market liberal Free Democrats rejected opposition accusations that the bill would mainly benefit interest groups associated with the two parties.

Unease among German states

Merkel appealed to the upper house of parliament to pass the legislation when it comes up for review on December 18, so that it could be swiftly introduced.

The Bundesrat is composed of delegates from Germany's state governments, which are far less enamored of the tax cuts because they expect to suffer a short-fall in their budgets.

Some have threatened to vote against the bill and Berlin is still in negotiations with some regional governments to win their support.

nw/AP/dpa

Editor: Sean Sinico