The $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan faces a possible wooden crush in the Senate as lawmakers consider making changes to the mammoth bill.
The House passed the legislation on Friday and sent it to the Senate where it could be tabled next week. The leadership wants the bill to be signed into law in mid-March, with responsibility for moving it to Congress quickly.
But before Senate Democrats can pass the bill, they will have to go through a few-hour voting session known as the branch vote, where any senator will be able to table an amendment. Any change will require the coronavirus relief package to return to the House.
“There are conversations about a bit of a different approach to some of these provisions … [But] we don’t want to derail reconciliation, ”the senator said. Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin: Partisan party winds threaten Capitol Murkowski riot commission with Tanden decision as Democrats ask FBI for plans to tackle domestic extremism after Capitol attack MORE (D-Ill.), Referring to the budget process that Democrats use to advance legislation. “We want to do something that is politically feasible with the cooperation of the House.”
His. John Cornyn
John Cornyn Politics, not racism or sexism, explain the opposition to Biden’s cabinet candidates. Biden promises to support Texas in the midst of recovering from the winter storm. Winds against the partisans threaten the riot commission of the Capitol MORE (R-Texas), asked about what to expect from Republicans, added that “I think people are eager to have a chance to set markers and make their point.”
With actions in the Senate normally tightly controlled, the branch vote represents one of the few chances senators have of forcing votes. An earlier vote earlier this month on the budget resolution – which passed the COVID-19 relief bill – drew more than 800 amendments, with debates in the afternoon, which lasted until 5 p.m. morning.
But most of the amendments during this debate were not binding, which made them little more than political messaging. Bets are raised in the next debate, as any successful amendment would change the bill and force it to return to the lower house.
“I think you have a bit of a preview, but the budget resolution is not law … and that will be so I think you can expect a solid modification process,” Cornyn said.
The Senate ends up making the federal minimum wage after the legislature ruled that raising the language to $ 15 an hour does not meet the budget rules that determine what can be included in the bill.
The House left in force the language of the $ 15 minimum wage, though it will be removed in the Senate. Democrats are fighting to see if they can incorporate language into the bill that would effectively push big companies to apply a minimum wage of $ 15 an hour.
The idea has been backed by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden
Ronald (Ron), Lee WydenHouse Democrats, reject COVID-19 .9T relief bill with rising minimum wage House expects narrow vote on COVID-19 relief package On The Money: Democrats fight to save a rise in the minimum wage Personal income increases, inflation remains low after the stimulus explodes MORE (D-Ore.) And chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersHouse Democrats pass COVID-19 .9T relief bill with rising minimum wage The House expects a narrow vote on the COVID-19 relief package On The Money: Democrats Struggle to Save a Rise of the minimum wage Personal income increases, inflation remains low after the stimulus explodes MORE (I-Vt.), And a senior Democratic aide said the leader of the majority Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer: The strange story of the filibuster Hillicon Valley: Biden signs an order on tokens Hearing on media misinformation Facebook agreement with Australia | CIA candidate for SolarWinds House Rules publishes new text of COVID-19 relief bill MORE (DN.Y.) “is looking” to add it to the coronavirus relief bill.
Without democracy. Joe Manchin
Joseph (Joe) ManchinProgressives smokes by Senate setbacks Politics, not racism or sexism, explain opposition to Biden House cabinet candidates Democrats in House approve 9Q COVID-19 bill with rise of the minimum wage (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), Who opposed raising the minimum wage by $ 15 an hour, have yet to weigh in.
There are other bipartisan discussions on how to make additional changes to the package.
His. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsCollins urges Biden to review order on U.S.-Canada border boundaries Wagon media circles for conspiracy theorist Neera Tanden Why “never deceived” failed MORE (R-Maine) said he was talking to Democrats about possible amendments, such as raising the income threshold for Americans to receive incentive payments, and those earning more than $ 200,000 to receive a partial check.
Durbin, asked for comments, added that “this is one of the issues that the bipartisan group of senators has raised from the beginning.”
During the budget vote, a bipartisan group of senators tabled an amendment to support the voice to make sure “higher-income taxpayers are not eligible.” The amendment, which was not binding, was eventually adopted in a 99-1 vote.
Under the coronavirus bill, people earning up to $ 75,000 and couples reaching $ 150,000 will receive a check for $ 1,400. The check amount is then reduced until it is completely eliminated for people earning $ 100.00 or married couples earning $ 200,000.
Many in the same group of senators also tabled an amendment to the budget resolution that supported limiting the payment of federal unemployment to $ 300 a week. The House bill limits payment to $ 400 a week.
Although six Democratic senators sponsored the amendment to the budget resolution, it is unclear whether there will be enough support to achieve a similar change in the coronavirus bill, a move that would anger both progressives in both houses. .
His. Jon Tester
Jonathan (Jon) Tester Democrats hesitant to raise taxes amid the pandemic Jennifer Palmieri: “Ever since I became aware of politics, I wanted to be in politics” Democrats were faced with the minimum wage MORE (D-Mont), one of the sponsors of the budget amendment, said he supported $ 400 a week and had not yet analyzed how he treated the House bill with stimulus controls.
Asked about the potential of bipartisan support to lower the weekly pay limit, Collins noted that “there was a general consensus at the same time.”
Schumer has been urging members of the Senate Democratic group to suggest possible changes to the bill so they can be incorporated into legislation before the House passes. Although Democrats initially did not propose changes to the budget resolution, they ended up supporting dozens.
“Please continue to provide comments and ideas to my office and Senate committees for the bill. We have already incorporated many of your suggestions, as well as a number of bipartisan proposals, into the bill and the Senate is on its way to send a robust $ 1.9 trillion package to the president’s table, ”Schumer wrote in a letter“ Dear College ”.
Republicans, meanwhile, are planning their own potential changes, after major victories in the budget vote, and could support the amendments to cut legislation, although the 50 Republican Party senators are expected to vote in against the final bill.
“Thinking strategically and tactically I guess you almost have to ask yourself‘ do you want to improve it ’and I think so,” the senator said. Kevin Cramer
Kevin John Cramer On The Money: Manhattan DA Gets Trump Tax Returns | Biden candidate previews post-Trump trade agenda | Biden faces first setback as Tanden clears ENERGY OVERNIGHT: Senate confirms former Michigan Gov. Granholm as Secretary of Energy | GOP bill would codify Trump’s rule on funding fossil fuels, weapons | Kennedy apologizes for calling Haaland a “good job” GOP bill would codify Trump’s rule on fossil fuel funding (RN.D.) on support for changes while opposing the general bill.
His. Todd Young
Todd Christopher YoungGraham: Trump “will be helpful” to all incumbents in Senate government Biden signs supply chain order after “positive” meeting with Republican lawmakers in 2024, aspirants draw the first lines of battle for the post-Trump era MORE (R-Ind.) I Tom Cotton
Tom Bryant CottonSunday shows preview: 2024 aspirants meet at CPAC; House passes coronavirus relief; the vaccination effort continues Memory: CPAC shoots up in 2024 Democrats are fired to rescue a rise in the minimum wage MORE (R-Ark.) He gained bipartisan support for an amendment during the budget vote to support not giving stimulus controls to undocumented immigrants, although the Democratic leadership claimed it would also have legally affected members of the family of the United States.
Young suggested that lawmakers try to address the issue in the House to avoid a vote of amendments in the Senate, but that if not resolved would offer the same amendment to the coronavirus bill that previously garnered the support of eight Democrats.
“I guess it’s a political protection effort,” he said of efforts to address the issue in the House. “But if it favors good public policy, I’m all in favor.”