Senate bill 510 labeled the "food safety and modernization act" tried to add some new taxes in the bill to "raise revenue". However, only the House of Reps is able to initiate legislation that includes new taxes. This constitutional bungle by the Senate will result in what's called a "blue slip" by the House and the bill will need to be redone and then revoted on. It's unlikely the Senate will have time to do this and all the other things in it's lame duck agenda.
YEAH! OK, it's not dead ... just taking a nap. But when it wakes up, hopefully the new cast of characters in the house/senate will decide that there are better things to spend their time on.
House May Block Food Safety Bill Over Senate Error
A food safety bill that has burned up precious days of
the Senate ’s lame-duck session appears headed back to the chamber because Democrats violated a constitutional provision requiring that tax provisions originate in the House.
The blue slip could lead to one of two likely outcomes.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) could simply drop the issue and let the next session of Congress start from scratch, a strategy that would allow him time in the lame-duck session to tackle other last-minute priorities, such as the expiring 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, a long-term continuing resolution, animmigration bill and a repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay service members.
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