Frist Poised To Blow It Again

On Friday, Frist's office said he intended to push for a bill permanently repealing the estate tax. Even the folks on his side "say the GOP doesn't have enough votes to overcome potential objections." AP (07.25.05):

"The Senate's top tax writer said Monday that a vote on permanently repealing the estate tax could doom senators' efforts to strike an agreement limiting the tax to the wealthiest estates. Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican who leads the Senate Finance Committee, said he was 'a little anxious' to learn the Senate's GOP leader intended to push forward this week with a bill permanently repealing the estate tax." Senate's Lead Tax Writer Says Estate Tax Repeal Vote Could Doom Compromise

"'I think if we push to have a vote without having a compromise, it could be the end of estate tax for this year,' Grassley said." "Nick Smith, a spokesman for Frist, said the GOP leader wants to see the estate tax gone for good. 'Bringing it to a floor vote is the best way to move the bill forward,' Smith said." It's also a good way of looking like a bumbling dupe who really doesn't have a clue as to how to get the job done. Again. On a related note, both the CBO and Professor think that the contention the estate tax is destroying family farms is a crock.