Congress Democrats are looking for a fight to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour as part of a $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus bill they want to pass in a matter of weeks.
The fight could intensify as soon as Wednesday, the Senate MP is expected to decide first whether the proposal can be included in relief legislation according to the special budget rules set out for the package.
If allowed, it would be a big win for Democrats, but it would only be a bigger battle within the party over how much to raise the minimum wage and how to structure it. With little room in both chambers, Democrats cannot afford to alienate either progressives or moderates.
“Even if it can be included, the question is: do Democrats support it uniformly?” said the senator. Tim Kaine
Timothy (Tim) Michael Kaine Democrats Plan Repression of Rising Drug Costs Overnight Health Care: Biden Officials Announce Funding to Track Virus Variants | Senate Dems reveals public option proposal | White House: no teacher vaccinations required for schools to reopen Group of 25 prominent nonprofits urge Congress to withdraw war powers MORE (D-Va.), And added that while he supported it, “there are other Democrats who have raised some concerns.”
Neither side shows the sides of caving, creating a high-stakes chicken game that could jeopardize more aid for American schools, states, small businesses, and families.
The House is expected to vote on its $ 1.9 trillion package on Friday, following the model President Biden
Joe BidenTikTok users spread the conspiracy because the government was making snow in Texas. The problem of a single federal minimum wage hike for everyone Throwing money into Central America will not stop illegal migration MOREproposal of. It includes a minimum wage of $ 15 per hour, which would be gradually incorporated in 2025.
It is a level that has powerful supporters, including Biden himself, the House progressives and the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders: On The Money: Neera Tanden nomination in jeopardy after three Republican Party boys Trump collapses after SCOTUS rules on financial records The road to Tanden confirmation seems increasingly unsustainable The Asian and American Pacific Caucus urges senators to confirm Tanden MORE (I-Vt.), Who said he wants to ensure the salary increase is approved by the Senate in its current form as soon as next week.
“Fifteen dollars an hour is not a radical idea, several states have moved in that direction, more than 60 percent of the American population thinks that’s where we should go and that’s what I want to do,” he said. said Sanders when asked about the discussion of a smaller increase.
Supporters of the $ 15 minimum wage point to broad support among Democrats in Congress, arguing that leaders should double any Democratic senator who is unwilling to follow the will of the party.
In the 50-50 Senate, if all Republicans vote against the pay rise, Democrats cannot afford defections.
Supporters also point to Florida, which was a stronghold for the former President Trump
Donald Trump Fauci: US political division by masks caused half a million deaths by COVID-19 The Bishop of Georgia says the state GOP election bill is an “attempt to suppress the black vote “Trump closer to legal danger after court ruling on tax returns. State voters last year passed a voting measure to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour.
“The party is already behind raising the minimum wage to $ 15. So is the American people! Even Republicans agree: just watch Florida spend $ 15 with a majority majority while voting for Trump. And beyond the solid support, it’s just a good policy, “he says. Pramila Jayapal
Pramila Jayapal: Democrats face Biden bill.9T unity test Progressive chair: I think the minimum wage will be included in the COVID-19 aid package shown on Sunday: COVID-19 dominates as the dark MORE milestone approaches (D-Wash.), The president of the Progressive Congress, made a tweet on Tuesday.
Similar to a budget resolution that passed Bill COVID-19, the Senate will have to hold a vote by vote before passing Bill COVID-19.
This allows any senator to offer possible changes to the bill, as many only need a simple majority to be successful, which gives extra power to moderates like the senator. Joe Manchin
Joseph (Joe) Manchin Night Health Care: US Over Half a Million Killed by COVID | The house panel advances the Biden .9T COVID-19 help bill | Johnson & Johnson ready to provide dose for 20 million Americans in late March On The Money: Neera Tanden’s nomination in jeopardy after three GOP guys | Trump collapses after SCOTUS rules on financial records The road to Tanden confirmation seems increasingly unsustainable MORE (DW.Va.), which opposes Sanders ’pay rise.
Manchin said if allowed to include a raise in the minimum wage, he wants to change the increase from $ 15 per hour to $ 11 per hour.
“If it’s relevant, with a 51-vote threshold, it’s basically $ 11. … We could earn $ 11 in two years and be in a better position than in five years with $ 15, ”Manchin said.
Manchin seemed skeptical that there would not be enough support for the $ 11 minimum wage, but declined to say how he would vote on the overall package if it was rejected.
Manchin isn’t the only Democratic senator who has concerns about raising the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour, but he has been the most vocal. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) Has also been opposed to the idea, and even beyond the amount of the increase, Democrats are discussing in private how to manage prone wages or possible relief. tax on small businesses.
An independent Sanders bill has the support of an additional 37 Democratic senators, 12 votes less than the simple majority needed to pass the coronavirus bill.
The approaching confrontation comes when senators are still waiting for news from Senate MP Elizabeth MacDonough on whether an increase in the minimum wage meets Byrd’s rule, an arcane procedure that determines what can and cannot happen for reconciliation. Democrats are using the budget process to pass the coronavirus relief and thus avoid the 60-vote legislative filibuster.
Sanders and his staff have been making presentations at MacDonough about why they believe it meets and should be included.
But others, including Biden, chairman of the House Budget Committee John Yarmuth
John Allen Yarmuth: On The Money: Neera Tanden’s nomination in jeopardy after three Republican Party boys Trump collapses after SCOTUS rules on financial records House panel advances Biden .9T COVID-19 aid bill This week: House will vote on Biden .9 trillion coronavirus bill MORE (D-Ky.) And Democratic senators have seemed skeptical.
“I put it on, but I don’t think it survives,” Biden told CBS News earlier this month, citing Senate rules on reconciliation.
This has left some Democratic senators avoiding the fight to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour until it becomes a live issue, once the MP does or does not, sign his inclusion.
Leader of the Senate majority Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerLawmakers proposes a bill to create a Capitol riot commission. The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by The AIDS Institute. The COVID-19 rescue bill is a test of unity for Dems. Biden Energy Dept orders a thorough overhaul of Trump’s energy standards Texas ’power grid was“ seconds and minutes away ”from total failure, according to MORE officials (DN.Y.) declined to say whether it would support a minimum wage increase of less than $ 15 per hour.
“Look, the first step is to go before reconciliation, in front of the parliamentarian. … We will wait for our trial before going any further, “Schumer told reporters.
His. Jon Tester
Jonathan (Jon) Tester Democratic Senate campaign arm touches new Tester staff leaders to chair defense endowment panel Trump’s lawyer accuses Democrats of violent rhetoric MORE (D-Mont.), Who is not a sponsor of Sanders’ bill, questioned the value of weighing until he at least overcomes this procedural hurdle.
“I don’t know if he’ll be there, but once he’s there, we’ll talk about it,” he said. “But until it gets there, I don’t think there’s any reason to spend energy on it.”
Alexander Bolton contributed.