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Senate showdown
August 02, 2006 3:30 PM
Congressional correspondent Liz Marlantes blogs about political brinkmanship and the minimum wage:
Hanging in the balance as the Senate approaches Friday’s showdown vote: the paychecks of millions of low-income workers, the inheritance of a much smaller number of wealthy heirs, and the future of a number of popular tax breaks that affect businesses and students. Also hanging in the balance: The reputations of Sens. Bill Frist and Harry Reid.
Maneuvering over the so-called “trifecta” bill -- a grouping of measures that would raise the minimum wage, cut estate taxes, and extend a host of other tax breaks -- has escalated into a game of political brinkmanship between the two party leaders. If the bill passes, Majority Leader Frist will win kudos for deft political strategizing -- pushing through a top priority for the GOP base, while simultaneously stripping Democrats of a campaign issue. If it goes down in defeat, Minority Leader Reid will win praise for maintaining party discipline -- a sign that he and Democrats are focused and hungry heading into the fall campaign.
Frist says he will get the 60 votes needed for passage. Reid vows Democrats will succeed in blocking the bill.
And every day, it seems, the two are finding ways to up the ante even more.
Yesterday, Frist declared that this vote would be the Senate’s only remaining opportunity to pass any of the items in the bill. If it fails, the minimum wage hike, estate tax cuts, and the tax extensions would all be dead for the rest of the year.
Today, Reid countered by saying that after Democrats block the trifecta bill, they will try to bring up the tax extensions (which include popular items like research and development tax credits) every week that the Senate remains in session -- and will oppose any move to adjourn in September until the Senate deals with those measures.
Behind the scenes, both are furiously leaning on members and counting votes. If neither side blinks, Friday will be quite a day.
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