Quotes of the Morning: Giving Back to the People

“I’d be hard-pressed to say we’re not addressing the issues that mean something to the average hard-working taxpayer out there today.”
-Senator Bill Frist, August 1, 2006

“Bill Frist: He’s fighting for the average taxpayer.”
-Skippy

“The only opportunity this year to increase the minimum wage and renew popular tax breaks will be linked to a reduction in the estate tax, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said Tuesday.
The Republican leader said he would schedule a Friday vote to see whether a bill combining the three items, already passed by the House, can win the support of 60 senators. Without that backing, the bill slides off the Senate's agenda.
‘It's now or never,’ Frist said.
[…]
The bill links a $2.10 increase in the $5.15 hourly federal minimum wage, phased in over three years, with a reduction of estate taxes. It would exempt $5 million of an individual's estate and $10 million of a couple's from taxation by 2015. Over the same time, the top estate tax rate would fall from 46 percent this year to 30 percent.”
-Associated Press, August 1, 2006

“Let’s word this accurately.. Senator Bill Frist is willing to increase the minimum wage from under $11,000 a year (based on a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks a year)) to around $15,000, but only if the first $5,000,000 of money that people inherit can be exempted from taxes ($10,000,000 by 2015).
If I’m doing my math correctly, Frist is ok with a minimum wage increase, but only if the equivalent of 333 times the annual minimum wage income can be exempted from inheritance tax, with that number (appropriately enough) increasing to 666 times the annual income by 2015.
Bill Frist is a real man of the people..
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Fearless Leader contemplates the future.”
-Skippy

“I mean, look, in my line of work, I hear all kinds of forecasts and, you know, prognosticators. And, you know, that's the great thing about our society, is, a lot of people are allowed to express themselves.”
-George ‘Dubya’ Bush, August 1, 2006

“Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America actually used the word ‘prognosticators’. That is a five, count-‘em, five syllable word. I truly believe that that may be the most impressive thing that he has said while in office.”
-Skippy

“I'm the master of low expectations.”
-George ‘Dubya’ Bush, June 4, 2003

“But Fearless Leader sees through this blatant hand-out of Senator Frist’s to the wealthy, and you can imagine his furious reaction to the linking of tax cuts for the ridiculously wealthy to giving a little money to those who are working hard but still can’t feed their families…”
-Skippy

“CAVUTO: But is it fair to link [elimination of the inheritance tax] with a hike in the minimum wage?
BUSH: Well, if it achieves the objective, I strong — you know, I support it. I support what the leadership is trying to do, which is to get tax extenders and the death tax and the minimum wage all passed. And, hopefully, the Senate will do so.”
-Question and answer session with George ‘Dubya’ Bush, August 1, 2006

‘Bill Frist: Addressing the issues that will mean something to Jenna and Not-Jenna Bush.”
-Skippy