Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says in private that he can approve President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus package, but wants to avoid last-minute changes that jeopardize his career, they say in Axios three sources familiar with the conversations.
Why it’s important: While the president hoped to get Republican support for the measure, Schumer has worked to make sure it has 50 solid votes to get it if needed. A parliamentary ruling on Thursday improved his chances.
What we are hearing: Schumer met with a group of moderate Democratic senators Thursday morning. They pushed for some changes to the bill, including money movements, more funding for broadband and rural hospitals and the extension of unemployment benefits beyond August.
- “They have some ideas and we’ll check them out,” Schumer later told Axios.
- Asked if some lawmakers suggested lowering the overall bill price, Schumer said, “I won’t go into any detail.”
The leader is wary of shaking the ship right now, the sources said, and expects the measure to remain relatively unchanged in its final version.
- “Schumer [has] has met privately with members to get their opinion on the legislation to make sure it is included in the wording, ”said a person familiar with the meetings.
The last: The Senate lawmaker announced Thursday night that Democrats could not include a $ 15 minimum wage provision within the measure in the reconciliation process.
- The ruling was significant because Mr. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) Said they were opposed to including the pay rise in the package, which could cost Democrats critical votes.
The conclusion: Democrats have been largely demanding a nearly $ 2 trillion package to address the urgency of the COVID-19 crisis.
- Last month, a group of 10 moderate Republican senators offered an approximate $ 600 billion counter-proposal, but the White House briefly rejected it.
- The White House has been publicly optimistic because it will add some Republican support, but in private it has prepared to approve the package independently.
- This strategy requires the entire Democratic Senate caucus to support it, leaving no room for error.