Estate Tax Vote Fails in Senate
Handful of senators switch partly lines on 57-41 vote for cloture.
Compiled by staff
Published: Jun 8, 2006
The U.S. Senate failed to secure the 60 votes necessary to proceed to debate on legislation that would permanently repeal the estate tax. The measure failed by a vote of 57-41.
Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Bill Nelson, D-Neb., were the only Democrats to vote in favor of cloture, while Lincoln Chafee, R-RI, and George Voinovich, R-Ohio, voted with a majority of Democrats against cloture.
A number of senators on the fence ended up voting against the motion to proceed, including Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Mark Pryor, D-Ark. Two senators were not present, Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.. Rockefeller is still recovering from back surgery, and it is not immediately known why Schumer was not present.
Senate leaders are meeting later today (Thursday) to explore other avenues of bringing permanent relief of the death tax. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has indicated the Senate will again try to vote on the repeal before the end of the Congressional year.
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