Masonry Magazine March 2007 Page. 11
The Sessions amendment is
The Sessions amendment is comparable to using the nuclear option for a paperwork violation.
tremendous missed opportunity in the House to extend important protections to these who represent the backbone of our economy, I'm pleased the Senate has stepped into the breach and joined House Republicans in making this issue a priority." McKeon continued, "Small businesses create two-thirds of our nation's new jobs, and they represent 98 percent of our new businesses. They and their workers are counting on Congress to consider how any minimum wage proposal would impact them, and the first time around, House Democrat leaders simply didn't."
The minimum wage legislation will be the Democrats' first opportunity to show whether or not they will in fact work in a bipartisan manner, as promised by both Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). As previously mentioned, Speaker Pelosi guided a stand-alone wage increase through the house in January. She and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) objected to the Senate's decision to attach the business tax breaks, which were written by Finance Chairman Max Baucus (DMT). Many Senate Democrats, including bill sponsor Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), also were not pleased with the deal reached by leaders of both parties in the Senate.
Kennedy, a longtime advocate for raising the minimum wage, vehemently opposed including the tax package with the House bill. Immediately after the measure passed, Kennedy described the vote as a "very clear message," but not a "victory"
Two Democratic presidential hopefuls calling for decisive action on the minimum wage increase joined Kennedy at a news conference.
"I think it's absolutely critical for us to make sure that we keep fighting on this," said Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). "This should not be loaded up. This should not be complicated.... The notion that we are still using this as a bargaining chip or dickering for various other tax breaks makes no sense. It's time to get this done."
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) noted the importance to women of an increase in the minimum wage and said Senate passage was a moment to pause and celebrate.
Even Baucus, who has said repeatedly that Democrats would not be able to pass a minimum wage increase in the closely divided Senate without some tax incentives attached, expressed hope that Democrats could find a way to clear the bill without so-called "business sweeteners."
Democrats may get their wish by invoking a procedural rule mandated by the Constitution, since the Senate may have overstepped its boundaries by attaching the tax breaks to the Senate version of the bill. Under the Constitution, all tax measures must originate in the House of Representatives. The leadership in the House has raised the possibility of lodging a constitutional objection to a tax measure originating in the Senate, but Ways and Means Chairman Rangel has said he will hold off for now. The fight over whether to raise the minimum wage is far from over. However, both Democrats and Republicans have made it clear that their desire to get minimum wage legislation passed is going to trump all other provisions that may or may not be part of the final bill.
Jessica Johnson Bennett is director of Government Affairs for MCAA. She brings to the Association an extensive background in public affairs and government relations. Her expertise in strategic planning, PAC management and operations help leverage the position of the MCAA on key policy issues that are important to the masonry industry
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* 5/8" halfround slotted carbide/ 3/8" cutting slot
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