Frist responds to Home/spuN, drops rebate plan

In light of scathing criticism posted yesterday in this space, Senator Bill Frist dropped his proposed tax rebate plan, which was created to ease concerns about rising gas prices. (Technically, Frist postponed the plan, saying it would be brought up again "later this year," but that's sort of the equivalent of a struggling restaurant posting a sign that it's "closed for renovations." Don't expect to eat there again anytime soon.)

Interestingly enough, much of the criticism of Frist's plan—and certainly, the criticism that led to the plan's collapse—came from business leaders, not Democrats. Apparently Big Business (aka The Man) is concerned about the bill because it would be paid for by an accounting change that would draw more tax money from oil companies as well as any other company that keeps a large inventory. Naturally, this drew a huge backlash from a wide spectrum of business leaders, rousing our president, who is always an advocate for the fair treatment of our corporate interests. (Bush threatened to veto the bill, apparently between rounds of Madden 06.)

What's interesting here is that, in a way, this only makes Michael Kinsley's proposal in Slate (highlighted here yesterday) seem even more logical and agreeable, because Kinsley's new proposed tax would only effect oil companies, avoiding the greatest rallying cry against Frist's proposal (which is that it would unfairly impact a wide range of businesses).

Of course, it would have been nice if Frist's proposal fell apart not because it offended business interests, but because, you know, giving Americans $100 each won't exactly solve our fuel crisis. But hey, us Democrats have to take our victories where we can get them.