FRIST FALLS FLAT, VOL. 2 - Frist’s Misplaced Priorities

Washington, DC - Bill Frist has proven to be both an ineffective leader in the Senate and out of touch with America's priorities. With his party sinking in the polls and with Americans loosing confidence in the Republican-controlled Congress, Frist has been unable to lead his fellow Republicans, has trouble garnering their support in the Senate and routinely loses political battles. As a last ditch effort, he has resorted to Karl Rove’s campaign playbook of distracting and dividing the country instead of focusing on the real issues facing America’s working families. Today, for example, Frist will hold a press event supporting the Marriage Protection Amendment, another divisive tactic that undermines the Constitution.

The Democratic National Committee’s “Frist Falls Flat” series continues to highlight Frist’s failures as Republican Senate Leader and his attempts to save his political career at the expense of the well-being of the American people. Today’s installment of “Frist Fall Flat” highlights the weak GOP Senate Leader’s misplaced priorities.

"Bill Frist's misplaced priorities and failed leadership have led to so many embarrassing policy defeats that he's now taking a page from Karl Rove's campaign playbook and using his power to the divide the country and distract from the key issues facing the American people," said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton. "Instead of working to insure the millions of Americans who lost their health insurance under Bush's watch or offering a plan to achieve real energy independence, Senator Frist instead has chosen to focus on writing discrimination into the Constitution. Frist's attempt to use marriage as a wedge issue is morally wrong and serves only to hurt LGBT Americans. The American people are tired of the Republicans' politics of division. Democrats remain committed to a bold agenda that puts America’s working families first, not the special interests."

Frist's Misplaced Priorities

HEALTH CARE: Frist's Health Care Week Flounders; Ultimately Did Not Have the Votes To Pass Key Initiatives. A bill to give small businesses a cheaper option when providing health insurance stalled in the Senate, as did a proposal to cap medical malpractice awards. "As a result, 'Health Week' in the Senate ended the way it began, with Republicans falling well short of the 60 votes needed to advance a pet initiative." [AP, 5/11/06]

ENERGY PLAN: Frist Forced To Jettison Provisions of Republican Energy Plan Because of Criticism From Members of His Own Party, Big Oil, Conservative Pundits. Frist's gas plan would end "the practice that allows companies to record sales from inventory at the higher, current cost of acquiring or producing the goods rather than a potentially lower original price." Closing this tax loophole would fund a $100 gas rebate for taxpayers. Frist, who led the rollout of the energy plan, was forced to jettison these central positions days later because of resistance from oil and gas companies and members of his own party, who called the provision "insulting," "stupid," "socialist bunk," and "silly." Rush Limbaugh said that the plan treated the American people "like a bunch of whores." [New York Times, 5/2/06; New York Times, 5/3/06; New York Times, 5/1/06]

IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION: Frist "Out-Maneuvered" By Specter and Bipartisan Group of Senators on Immigration Reform. Frist "may have been out-maneuvered by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter and a bipartisan group of senators who are pushing a bill that, along with beefing up border security, would allow millions of illegal residents to apply for citizenship." [Los Angeles Times, 3/31/06]

SOCIAL SECURITY: Frist's Efforts to Add Personal Accounts Were Undone by Republican Senator Snowe. Majority Leader Bill Frist placed a July 4th recess deadline on Sen. Charles Grassley to have his Finance Committee win approval of a Social Security bill that would add private accounts. Everything was on track until Senator Olympia J. Snowe stepped in and opposed the bill. Snowe, a member of the Gang of 14, brought Frist's plan to a slow death because he was relying on the Gang of 14 to ensure Democrats did not filibuster the bill when it hit the floor. [Washington Post, 5/30/05]