LinkSen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, threatened to invoke a parliamentary rule to stop Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) from introducing the domestic partner amendment.
Baucus said the partner amendment could jeopardize a compromise package of tax relief amendments for small businesses that Republicans have demanded as a condition for backing the minimum wage bill, according to Baucus spokesperson Carol Guthrie.
R.C. Hammond, a spokesperson for Smith, said Smith backed down from introducing his amendment in committee on Jan. 17 and on the Senate floor on Jan. 24 after Baucus and Democratic leaders informed him they would rule the amendment non-germane, preventing it from coming up for a vote.
