Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said he received assurances from Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., that Democrats will be "full partners" in conference with House officials on legislation to substitute long-term corporate bonds for the 30-year Treasury bond as the pension liability benchmark for two years. The legislation would also give the airline, steel and other financially strapped industries a break from stepping up contributions to their underfunded pension plans.
A spokesman for Mr. Frist did not return calls seeking comment by press time.
