A source close to Sen. Bill Frist (R.-Tenn.), who is not running for re-election but may run for President, says the Senate Majority Leader is planning to call votes in the coming weeks to highlight the differences between Republicans and Democrats and rekindle conservative grass-roots enthusiasm as we head toward the mid-term elections.
Frist will hold votes on a federal marriage amendment, a flag protection amendment, abolition of the death tax, and a bill that makes it a crime to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion to a state that lacks a parental notification law.
Only the last has a chance of becoming law this year. The others are symbolic.
Then, of course, there is the immigration issue, which may end up being the biggest symbol of all for this Congress if the Senate fails, as expected, to pass the tough border security measures approved by the Republican House.
"The one problem we are going to face is the debate on an immigration reform package," warned the source.
No kidding.
