Jim Manley, spokesman for Majority Leader Harry Reid confirms that the Senate is planning four tax cut votes tomorrow. As reported here, these will include the two Dem-sponsored plans: middle-income only cuts, and a tax hikes for millionaires.
The Senate will also vote on two Republican-backed plans: one to extend all of the Bush tax cuts for five years, and another to extend them permanently.
This is all contingent upon unanimous consent of the Dem and Republican caucuses. If any senators — Jim DeMint or Tom Coburn come to mind — decide to object, then plans change. Reid could file for cloture on the tax cut plans, or they could drop the whole thing.
Two top Senate aides confirm that the final deal will be reached later, and that these votes are for positioning — particularly many months from now as the 2012 elections heat up.
In other words, don’t expect to see the President or White House surrogates slamming House and Senate Republicans for holding middle class tax cuts hostage for millionaires. If anything, the White House wishes none of this was happening, and that they could cut a deal without any Sturm und Drang.
