UPDATE: AP changed the story. Good.
From AP:
Democrats' promise of a quick increase in the minimum wage ran aground Wednesday in the Senate, where lawmakers are insisting it include new tax breaks for restaurants and other businesses that rely on low-pay workers.Liberals in the Senate? Every Democrat voted to stop the Republican filibuster, and five Republicans joined them in that vote. So where does the "liberals" line come from? It's completely inappropriate and false. But it does add a nice Republican spin to the story to try to knock the Democrats as out of touch with the American people.
On a 54-43 vote, Democrats lost an effort to advance a House-passed bill that would lift the pay floor from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour without any accompanying tax cut. Opponents of the tax cut needed 60 votes to prevail.
The vote sent a message to House Democrats and liberals in the Senate that only a hybrid tax and minimum wage package could succeed in the Senate. But any tax breaks in the bill would put the Senate on a collision course with the House, which is required by the Constitution to initiate tax measures.
It seems the spirit of John Solomon continues to live at the Associated Press.
