The first vote will be on H.R. 5970, the “trifecta” bill, which includes provisions that would eliminate federal estate taxes for most estates; increase the federal minimum wage for most workers to $7.25 per hour, from $5.15 per hour; and extend the research and development tax credit and other popular tax breaks.

In an effort to garner support for the estate tax measure, the Republican National Committee has sent out an e-mail urging their party faithful to contact local federal lawmakers to encourage them to pass the estate tax bill.

According to the House Republican leadership, “the bill will prevent almost all Americans from ever paying the estate tax.”

The estate tax provision in H.R. 5970 increases the estate and gift tax exemption amount through a phase-in to $5 million per person effective Jan. 1, 2015, and then indexes it for inflation. It also reunifies the estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes and reduces estate and gift tax rates.

It says that estates valued at up to $25 million (indexed for inflation) will be subject to tax at the capital gains tax rate (currently 15 percent, set to increase to 20 percent in 2011 unless extended). Amounts in excess of $25 million (indexed for inflation) or more will be subject to a phased-in reduced rate of tax of 30 percent. The 30 percent tax rate is fully phased-in effective Jan. 1, 2015.

The bill is opposed by the insurance industry. For example, the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting supports “sustainable” estate tax relief that would provide a $2.5 million exemption per person, and a top tax rate of 45 percent.

Members of Congress and analysts as well are skeptical that Mr. Frist has the votes to pass the “trifecta” bill. For example, Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley in a conference call with Iowa reporters Tuesday said it is unlikely that he will be able to secure the 60 votes needed to proceed with a vote on the estate tax reform package. “I don't think we'll lose any [more] Republicans…but I don't know where to get three more Democratic votes,” Mr. Grassley said.

Later Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, R-Nev., said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who supported the Republicans on estate tax repeal when it came up in June, will not be in Washington the remainder of this week due to the death of his nephew, who was killed in Iraq.