Frist links (minimum) wage hike to estate tax cut

[KamaAina]

Once again, "Leave No Millionaire Behind"...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060802/ap_on_go_co/congress_taxes

The only opportunity this year to increase the minimum wage and renew popular tax breaks will be linked to a reduction in the estate tax, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said Tuesday.

The Republican leader said he would schedule a Friday vote to see whether a bill combining the three items, already passed by the House, can win the support of 60 senators. Without that backing, the bill slides off the Senate's agenda....

Democratic leaders said they plan to fight the bill, criticizing the GOP for helping minimum wage workers only to deliver a tax cut to the wealthiest taxpayers. They also criticized the bill for overriding state laws and forcing all states to count tips toward an employee's minimum wage....

The last time Frist tested the Senate's temperament toward reducing or eliminating the estate tax, he fell three votes short and could not bring the issue up for debate.

Looks like we'll have to wait 'til next year, when a Democratic-controlled Congress can get this long-overdue legislation passed without mucking it up with all this business- and wealth-friendly extras. :grr:

[joemurphy]

1. Always the statesman, Dr. Bill once again focuses on the

best interests of the American working man.

[WCGreen]

5. And his own family.....

This is what gets to me...

How many of these people pushing hard for the Estate Tax Cut will end up with millions of more in their kid's inheritance...

[babylonsister]

2. What was the third item? And I'd rather see this tabled than voted

on now. Come on, November!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

7. Yes, yes, yes. I can't believe the moxie of the uber wealthy...

link the minimum wage increase to the elimination of the estate tax...


Jesus would not like this bill. MKJ

[w4rma]

3. Holy crap, the Rethugs cut the wages for waiters/waitresses in this bill

also. This bill will not pass.

[4nic8em]

4. I link Frist...

with a bucket of dumbshit.

[Kingofalldems]

6. Gotta help those poor oppressed rich people.

[L0oniX]

8. Who was the ass carrot that came up with that idea?

I swear ...we need to march on Washington with 10 million people and physically throw these ass hats out on the street.:mad:

[RandomKoolzip]

10. That's the problem:

We WOULD, but there's too many of us working too many hours at more than one job that pays less than a living wage - there's no TIME to demonstrate.

ANd no, that isn't a coincidence. The GOP learned the lessons of the 60's all too well: keep 'em busy working 40+ hours a week just to keep their heads above water and they won't march.

Welcome to DU, BTW. (nice avatar)

[KamaAina]

14. Ass carrot!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Festivito]

9. TEMPORARY wage fix for the poor with PERMANENT welfare for the rich.

People! Please! Wake!

[radfringe]

15. ...with condolences...

[mark414]

11. they better not let it pass

and they better hammer it home every single day until november...

"we wanted to give you a raise but the republicans wouldn't let us unless we gave millionaires another tax cut"

what a bunch of fucking bastards

[AzDar]

12. Count TIPS as part of minimum wage? Jeezus Christ, what a nightmare!

[PegDAC]

21. A lot of restaurants do that now. n/t

[ladym55]

13. Gotta love our Senate Majority Leader!

WHAT a guy!!! Not too cynical, eh? Yessir, kill the minimum wage initiative by connecting it to the tax cuts.

And one of jewels from Faux News was sneering about how the Democrats viewed the minimum wage as a moral issue, even though IT WASN'T GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY!!!

Not sure which country the lamebrain was talking about, but improving the lot of the working poor would certainly HELP our nation. :grr:

[wryter2000]

16. I'd better not hear of any dems signing onto this

They can't get 60 without some dems. Any D who goes along with this deserves to get kicked out of the party.

[sakabatou]

17. Damn poison legilslation.

[KamaAina]

18. House roll call: 34 Dems took the bait.

Even the normally reliable Neil Abercrombie (D-HI 1st) took the bait. :grr:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll425.xml

So did Case, but we already know he's a DINO. Akaka can now use this to bash him in the upcoming Senate primary.

Others who should've known better: Towns (NY), Wu (OR) -- and "Dollar Bill" Jefferson (D-LA 2nd, for now), following up on his "CAFTA 15" vote. :puke:

[Onlooker]

19. The Democrats should filibuster!!!

It would bring maximum attention not only to this scandal, but also to the whole "nuclear option" and remind people that the Republicans are out of control.

[ecstatic]

20. and then when it passes, Bush can use a signing statement

to remove the minimum wage part altogether?

[bronxiteforever]

22. a government of the rich, by the rich and FOR THE RICH!!!!

They can't even do the tiniest right thing without crushing it down with their greed and piggery!

[samsingh]

23. sneaky, cruel, and evil - just like Frist the pet cat killer

[opihimoimoi]

24. Despicable move by the PUBs....Hiding among the Wage Earners