AM Feed - August 4: Senate Shoots Down Estate Tax Combo Bill
Hot Topics
- In another failed gambit by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, the Senate rejected a bill that would slash estate taxes for multimillionaires and simultaneously boost the minimum wage. Conservatives have long been dismissive of the idea of raising the minimum wage (it hasn’t happened in nearly a decade), but this time the measure was paired with the estate tax pet project in an election-year scheme that failed. The Senate is now on a four-week recess, although the issue could come up again when they return. [link]
- And, speaking of vacations: It’s August, so that means President Bush is heading down to Crawford to spend some time clearing brush. But Bush is cutting this vacation short. While he usually spends most of August in Texas, his trip lasts just 10 days this year – a reflection of last year’s disaster, when he was caught completely off-guard by Hurricane Katrina, and the government’s response was maligned. Of course, it isn’t suddenly all work and no play: While this particular trip is only 10 days, Bush has scheduled extended time out of the White House in the coming weeks, with jaunts to Camp David, Kennebunkport, and then back to Texas. [link]
- An appeals court judge has affirmed the ruling of a lower court and decided that indicted former Rep. Tom DeLay must stay on the ballot in his Texas district. Republicans had attempted to remove his tarnished name and replace it with someone else (someone who, presumably, hadn’t just resigned his seat in Congress). The court’s decision was unanimous. The Texas Republican Party has already announced its intention to appeal the decision (again) to the Supreme Court. [link]
Quote of the Day
“I cannot imagine any objective finding that CO2 is a pollutant. If that’s true, God is a polluter.” – Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)
Morning Snark
- Let’s hope Rep. Barton made that statement in an oxygen-deprived CO2-choked room – it might cause him to reconsider his position and, more importantly, give him an excuse for saying something so ridiculous.
Comment
- If only closed minds came with closed mouths!
— Teekleman Aug 4, 12:53 # - Even that charlatan Pat Robertson has now come to realize the reality of global warming – will wonders never cease?
— John Aug 4, 12:55 #
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