Senate Democrats on Monday laid the groundwork for what could be a showdown vote on Wednesday on a plan that would extend current income tax rates only for those making less than $250,000 a year, as both sides maneuvered for advantage on the tax issue over the next two weeks.
With the Congress ready to leave town until mid-September after next week, both parties are trying their best to push through a plan to their liking, as Senate Democrats hope to vote as early as this week, while a House Republican plan to extend all the current tax rates is due for a vote next week.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed cloture on his party's plan, which would mean a procedural vote on Wednesday where Democrats would need 60 votes just to start debate on the bill.
It wasn't clear Monday evening whether Democrats wanted to allow votes on any amenmdents to the bill from Republicans, a familiar issue which has sometimes led to gridlock and GOP filibusters, but also agreements on amendments that has allowed bills to go forward in recent months.
Republicans have their own plan to offer as well in the Senate which could figure in to some kind of deal on how to proceed on the Senate floor.
Senate Democrats meanwhile have tinkered with their own plan in recent days, removing provisions that would have eased a scheduled increase in federal estate taxes.
What Democrats are basically trying to do is come up with a plan that can garner 51 votes and show voters they have a majority to do something along the lines of a recent proposal by President Obama.
Already, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) have announced their opposition, focusing a lot of attention on Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).
Senators in both parties say all of this maneuvering isn't worth much, convinced the real decisions on expiring taxes will be made after the elections in a lame duck session of the Congress.
Senators will meet in their respective party lunches on Tuesday afternoon at the Capitol - that should give us a better idea of where things are going on the Bush tax rates.
