Pelosi's First Bill Stalled in Senate

The first bill of Nancy Pelosi's first 100 hours was the minimum wage bill, which was quickly shoved through the House, and then hit a wall in the Senate:

WASHINGTON — The minimum wage increase that was supposed to zip through Congress veered onto a collision course Wednesday as lawmakers argued over business tax breaks that would be attached to ensure Republican support.

Democratic leaders in the House began laying groundwork to blame the Republicans for any impasse. Senate Democrats, however, cautioned their House colleagues not to jeopardize legislation they'd promised to approve if they gained control of Congress.

House Democrats demanded a clean bill from the Senate _ no tax attachment _ setting up a confrontation that could delay final congressional passage of the $2.10 an hour increase.

The Senate did vote 54-43 to advance a House-passed measure that would lift the pay floor without any accompanying tax cut. However, that was well short of the 60 votes needed to keep that version moving.

The vote was a signal to the House that without the tax breaks a minimum wage bill appeared doomed in the Senate. And the Senate promptly moved to a broader bill, backed by its Democratic leaders, that would raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour over 26 months and provide $8.3 billion in tax benefits to businesses over 10 years.

Pelosi can deliver this stuff in the House, but without 60 votes in the Senate, Harry Reid is neutered. How's it feel, Harry, to have the minority screw up your plans?