On August 3, the Senate defeated, 56-42, an effort to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of the Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act of 2006 (H.R. 5970); the vote fell 3 votes short of the 60 votes necessary to limit debate. Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) voted “no” to preserve his right to ask for another vote in the future. The House passed the bill on July 29 (see The Source, 7/28/06).
The bill would have increased the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 over three years. The measure also would have extended several tax credits through 2007, including those related to tuition, medical savings accounts, and hiring disadvantaged workers. The legislation also would have extended the penalty for group health plans that impose limits on mental health benefits in violation of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (P.L. 108-311).
