Frist writes Kerry urging help with tax bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — If presidential hopeful John Kerry really wants to help protect American jobs, he should push a bill stalled in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said in a letter sent to Kerry Wednesday.
Frist noted in the letter that the Massachusetts Democrat was discussing job creation while traveling in the Midwest this week.
Frist applauded Kerry’s enthusiasm for the issue on the campaign trail but reminded the candidate that the Senate was going to take up the legislation in question next week.
The bill would give U.S. manufacturers a tax break. Frist said the effort was aimed at protecting “more than a million high quality manufacturing jobs.”
The legislation also would eliminate a tax break for American corporations exporting abroad, which would end a standoff with the European Union. The EU has imposed punitive sanctions on American exports that increase 1 percentage point each month until the conflict is resolved.
The bill includes billions in new tax breaks for energy production and conservation.
Frist, R-Tenn., said Kerry’s help is needed to overcome Democratic opposition to the bill.
Democrats want to add provisions to the bill that touch on other economic issues such as overtime pay. Republicans oppose doing that.
“It is my hope that you will use your position to help convince your Democratic colleagues of the importance of this legislation and help us to move it quickly toward passage,” Frist wrote.
He noted that Kerry initially sponsored the legislation before withdrawing support.
Kerry responded Wednesday in a letter to Frist.
“If you were willing to permit votes on overtime, minimum wage and other provisions important to working Americans, we might have a real debate on the Senate floor resulting in actual votes and perhaps pass the legislation,” Kerry wrote.
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On the Net:
Information on S.1637 can be found at: http://thomas.loc.gov/
Frist’s office: http://frist.senate.gov/
Kerry campaign: http://www.johnkerry.com/