December 11, 2007
Senate Lunch Chatter: All Eyes On Baucus, Lott
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., was the man of the hour in the press scrum before the Senate's Tuesday party luncheons. With a key part of the energy bill related to taxes headed to a vote and the fate of an alternative minimum tax fix and a measure blocking cuts for doctors in his hands, the Finance Committee chairman found himself surrounded by reporters three deep. Baucus expressed confidence that he could get the necessary 60 votes for the energy tax measure that would cut subsidies to energy companies. Democrats campaigned on the issue in 2006.
After the lunches, reporters crowded around Minority Whip Trent Lott, R-Miss., who is retiring by the end of the month. In one of his last tête-à-têtes with the press as a senator, Lott trumpeted the value of dealmaking, which has been in short supply on Capitol Hill this year.
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he would push the Senate to accept President Bush's domestic spending total and $70 billion for the wars, reflecting Republican confidence that Bush and the GOP hold the upper hand in the appropriations fight. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he would wait to see what the House approved for the appropriations endgame before weighing in on the GOP plan. Most senators said there was no appetite for a continuing resolution into next year, meaning a final deal likely will be cut.
