Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) outlined his schedule for the next two weeks today, and his plans include bringing up the estate tax again. Frist told reporters, "I'll do everything I can to have another vote on the 'death tax' by July Fourth;" who knows if he will seriously be able to get away with doing this, or if he is only stating his desire to bring up the issue again to pander to his base. Frist acknowledged that he does not have the necessary support in the Senate for full repeal, and so he will probably turn to Sen. Kyl's compromise.

Sen. Charles Grassley has asked the Smithsonian Institution's Inspector General to investigate executive pay throughout the museum. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy:

We are hearing that proposals for sunset commissions are accelerating through the House now. Reports are emerging from Boehner’s office that indicate some yet-to-be-unveiled vehicle will get a floor vote next week. We need to stop this legislation which would give unelected commissions the power to recommend which federal programs live, die, or get realigned, and then force those recommendations through Congress on a fast-track, take-it-or-leave-it basis. And we need your help making nonprofit voices heard! We are circulating a sign-on letter to send to the House, the text of which follows. It would be great if the groups who care about social services, public health, safety, civil rights, the environment, scientific research, and access to justice — i.e., you! — would sign. Deadline Friday COB. To sign, just email stopsunsets [at] ombwatch.org to let us know that your organization will sign on!

OMB Watch Tells Congress PART Should Remain Insignificant Senate Rejects Estate Tax Repeal; Frist Likely to Turn to Costly 'Compromise' Think Tank Focuses on Economic Security