Majority Leader Bill Frist today threatened to take the tax extenders and minimum wage off the table unless the Senate passes the estate tax bill:

If the Senate kills the trifecta bill, we will not return to it this year. That means no permanent death tax reform, no tax policy extenders, and no minimum wage increase. It is now or never — this week — and members should understand that. There will be no second chances. No last minute side deals. No new UCs. No other motions to proceed. Nothing….

In the Senate, a bipartisan majority supports fixing the death tax — forever. A bipartisan majority supports extending critical tax policies. A bipartisan majority supports handling the minimum wage. So let’s see that bipartisan majority stand up and act! It’s our time to choose. So let’s pass pensions, without amendment. And let’s stop the filibuster on the trifecta bill.

A New York Times editorial today blasted Sen. Frist’s performance.  (Hat Tip:  Richard Winchester.)