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Lott Says Deal Close at Hand on Small Business Bill, Gas Tax Cut and Minimum Wage Hike

Wednesday, June 19, 1996

Deloitte & Touche OnLine

Democrats and Republicans are very close to reaching an agreement allowing the small business tax incentive bill (HR 3448), the gas tax repeal bill (HR 3415), and a minimum wage increase to be brought to the Senate floor for a vote, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., told reporters Wednesday.

If such an agreement is not reached, Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., warned he will attempt to attach the minimum wage increase to the pending fiscal 1997 defense appropriations bill, CongressDaily news service reported Wednesday.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., expressed optimism about an agreement, but warned some opposition exists from Senate Democrats.

Some Democrats are concerned that a capital gains tax cut will be added to the wage hike, and the bill ultimately will die in a House-Senate conference, Lott told reporters. Democrats want the option of being able to offer a wage hike later if the feared scenario unfolds, he said.

Archer, Roth Urge Action On Health Care Bill: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bill Roth, R-Del., and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer, R-Texas, urged President Clinton and Sen. Ted Kennedy to back away from their opposition to the medical savings account provision in the health insurance reform bill (HR 3103).

Clinton and other Democrats oppose the MSA provision on the grounds that it helps only the richest and healthiest Americans, and could undermine the risk pool needed to insure everyone.

"I urge my Democratic colleagues to end their blockade of health insurance reform and work with us to make affordable health insurance a reality for more Americans," Roth said in a press release.

"We have put forward proposals that are small enough to be considered 'demonstration projects.' This was one of the often stated criteria of the White House and some Democrats," Roth said.