Major News, as of a few minutes ago: Success in the Senate!

The U.S. Senate on Thursday killed a bill backed by President George W. Bush that would have permanently repealed estate taxes. On a vote of 57-41, the Senate blocked consideration of a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would wipe out what Republicans call the "death tax." Republican backers had acknowledged they were short of votes for full repeal, but they had hoped to offer an alternative that would have reduced the tax rate and exempted all but the wealthiest estates from the tax.

Frist had thought he was two votes short. So much for his judgment. Despite this success, contact your Senators and congratulate them, encourage them to continue to fight for middle-class Americans, and vote for the best interests of the country. Today's the day Bill Frist will try to ram the vote through on repealing the Estate Tax--the so-called "Paris Hilton" tax.

While this tax benefits only the top 1% of all Americans, and the 14 families (including the Wal-Mart heirs, the Mars heirs, and others) pushing this have lobbyied long and hard for the repeal, the netroots have an important part to play here.

If you haven't already contacted your Senator, DO SO TODAY!!!

Surely Frist is concerned only about his own financial interests here, but he's also counting on the fact that we'll all be distracted by the Al-Zarqawi news and other items.

Begin by contacting two important "wobbly" Democrats:  Maria Cantwell and Mark Pryor.

Background below the fold.