With the vote still pending after more than eight hours on Friday because of the stalemate over unemployment benefits, the move to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 by 2025 attracted only 42 supporters – and 58 opponents.
“If anyone thinks we are giving up on this issue, they are sadly mistaken,” Sanders told reporters. “If we have to vote repeatedly, we will – and we will succeed.”
While Republicans made it clear that they were ready to deepen the debate on the stimulus package with all kinds of amendments that were bound to fail, it was also clear on Friday that there were issues much more significant than a united minority in the opposition. . Lawmakers from both parties quickly focused on Manchin, who repeatedly called for the general project to be more targeted and pointed to the unemployment clause as an example.
It was unclear exactly what concerns Manchin had about the Democrats’ proposed commitment, whether it was just the size and duration of payments or a new provision that would forgive up to $ 10,200 in unemployment benefit taxes received by 2020.
Nor was it clear whether he would instead endorse an alternative amendment by Sen. Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, which would keep unemployment payments at $ 300 and shorten the program by setting an end date until July 18. .
“There is bipartisan support for what Rob is trying to do and Manchin is being beaten by his side – you know, they are trying to put him on the line, so to speak,” Sen. John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, told reporters. reporters. He added: “I think the arms are now being twisted.”
At one point on the Senate floor, some Democrats appeared to be involved in a heated discussion about the clause with Mr. Manchin. The group sometimes included Senators Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the second Democratic Senator, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Jon Tester of Montana and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.