Democrats Say Vote On Tax Cuts Likely Delayed Until Lame-Duck

Photo Courtesy -- ABC News.(WASHINGTON) -- Senate Democrats acknowledged Thursday that they will almost definitely delay a debate and vote on extending the Bush tax cuts until the lame-duck session after the November elections.  “The reality is nothing’s going to happen before the elections,” the Senate’s number-two Democrat Dick Durbin said after a caucus meeting Thursday afternoon.  While Durbin said Majority Leader Harry Reid “will make the final decision,” the Illinois lawmaker admitted that “the likelihood of our passing anything by way of tax extensions is very very slim.”  Durbin also emphasized the difficulty of finding a "bipartisan answer to the challenges we face.” As Democrats themselves acknowledged Thursday, they are a party divided.  "Opinions were all over the place,” said Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., of the caucus meeting. Bayh, who is retiring this fall, has broken with his party to support an extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.  The tax cuts will expire on January 1st unless Congress acts.

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