Congressional Democrats are engaged in a fight to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour as part of a $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus bill they wish to pass in a matter of weeks.
The fight could worsen on Wednesday, when the Senate parliamentarian must decide whether the proposal can be included in relief legislation under special budgetary rules planned for the package.
If allowed, it will be a huge victory for Democrats, but it will only open up a bigger battle within the party over how much to raise the minimum wage and how to structure it. With small margins in both chambers, Democrats cannot afford to fend off progressive or moderates.
“Even though it may be included, the question is: are Democrats uniformly supportive?” said the Sen. Tim Kaine
Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineDemocrats plan to crack down on rising drug costs Health care overnight: Biden officials announce funding to track down variants of the virus | Dems Senate Reveals Proposed Public Option | White House: Vaccination of teachers is not necessary for schools to reopen (D-Va.), Adding that although he supported, “there are some other Democrats who raised some questions”.
Neither side is showing sides of the cave, creating a high-risk game that can put more help for schools, states, small businesses and American families.
The House is expected to vote by Friday on its $ 1.9 trillion package, modeled after President biden
Joe BidenTikTok users spread the conspiracy that Texas snow was made by the government The problem with a one-size-fits-all federal minimum wage Throwing money in Central America will not prevent illegal migration MOREproposal for. It includes a minimum wage of US $ 15 per hour, which would be implemented in 2025.
It is a level that has powerful supporters, including Biden himself, the House’s progressives and the President of the Senate Budget Committee Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersOn The Money: the appointment of Neera Tanden in danger after three GOP nations | Trump rages after SCOTUS rules on financial records Tanden’s path to confirmation seems increasingly unsustainable. (I-Vt.), Who said he wants to ensure that the salary readjustment is approved in its current form by the Senate 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 people think this is where we should go and that is what I want to do,” said Sanders when asked about the conversation about 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 does not want to follow the party’s will.
In the 50-50 Senate, if all Republicans vote against the salary increase, Democrats cannot afford to defect.
Supporters also point to Florida, which was a stronghold of former President Trump
Donald TrumpFauci: The US political division over masks led to half a million deaths in COVID-19 Bishop of Georgia says the Republican Party’s state election bill is an ‘attempt to suppress the black vote’. State voters passed an electoral measure last year to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour.
“The party is already behind raising the minimum wage to $ 15. The American people too! Even Republicans agree – just look at Florida approving $ 15 with an absolute majority when voting for Trump. And in addition to the robust support, it is just a good policy ”, representative. Pramila Jayapal
Pramila JayapalDemocrats face unit test in Biden’s .9T bill Progressive caucus chair: I think the minimum wage will be included in the Sunday programs of the COVID-19 – COVID-19 aid package dominates as a gloomy milestone gets closer MORE (D-Wash.), The president of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, tweeted on Tuesday.
Similar to a budget resolution that prepared the COVID-19 bill, the Senate will need to hold a vote-by-law before approving the COVID-19 bill.
This allows any senator to offer potential changes to the bill, with many needing only a simple majority to succeed, something that gives moderates like Sen extra power. Joe Manchin
Joseph (Joe) ManchinOvernight Health Care: USA tops half a million COVID deaths | House Panel advances help project for Biden .9T COVID-19 | Johnson & Johnson ready to deliver doses to 20 million Americans by the end of March On The Money: Neera Tanden’s nomination is in danger after three GOP nations | Trump rages after SCOTUS rules on financial records Tanden’s path to confirmation seems increasingly unsustainable MORE (DW.Va.), which opposes Sanders’ salary increase.
Manchin said that if the minimum wage increase can be included in the account, he wants to change the increase from $ 15 to $ 11 an hour.
“If applicable, with a 51 vote limit, $ 11 basically works. … We could win $ 11 in two years and be in a better position than they will be in five years with $ 15, ”said Manchin.
Manchin seemed skeptical that there would not be enough support for the $ 11 minimum wage, but he declined to say how he would vote for the general package if it were rejected.
Manchin is not the only Democratic senator concerned about raising the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour, but he has been the most expressive. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) Has also spoken out against the idea, and even beyond the value of the increase, Democrats are discussing in particular how to deal with indirect wages or potential tax cuts for small businesses.
An independent Sanders bill is supported by 37 additional Democratic senators – 12 votes less than the simple majority needed to approve the coronavirus bill.
The approaching stalemate occurs while senators are still waiting to hear from Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate MP, about whether a minimum wage increase complies with Byrd’s rule, a mysterious procedure that determines what can and cannot be done. approved by reconciliation. Democrats are using the budget process to approve coronavirus relief so they can get around the 60-vote legislative obstruction.
Sanders and his team have argued with MacDonough about why they think he is in compliance and should be included.
But others, including Biden, chairman of the House Budget Committee John Yarmuth
John Allen YarmuthOn The Money: the appointment of Neera Tanden in danger after three GOP nations | Trump rages after SCOTUS rules on financial records House panel advances Biden’s aid project .9T COVID-19 This week: House will vote on Biden’s 0.9 trillion coronavirus bill MORE (D-Ky.) And Democratic senators seemed skeptical.
“I did, but I don’t think it will survive,” Biden told CBS News earlier this month, citing the Senate’s rules on reconciliation.
This left some Democratic senators shying away from the struggle to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour until it becomes a living problem – once the congressman agrees, or not, to include it.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerLawmakers Proposes Bill to Create Capitol Riot Commission The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by The AIDS Institute – COVID-19 rescue project a unit test for Dems ENERGY OF NIGHT: USA officially meets Paris climate agreement | Biden Energy Dept orders review of Trump’s energy rules | The Texas power grid was ‘seconds and minutes’ from total failure, officials say MORE (DN.Y.) did not say whether it would support a minimum wage increase of less than $ 15 an hour.
“Look, the first step is to go before reconciliation, before the parliamentarian. … We will wait for our trial before proceeding, ”Schumer told reporters.
Sen. Jon Tester
Jonathan (Jon) Tester Senate Democratic Campaign Arm Calls New Tester Team Leaders to Chair Defense Fund Panel Trump’s lawyer accuses Democrats of violent rhetoric MORE (D-Mont.), Who is not a co-sponsor of Sanders’ project, questioned the value of grief until at least he overcomes this procedural hurdle.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be there, but once it’s there, we’ll talk about it,” he said. “But until I get there, I don’t think there is any reason to waste energy on it.”
Alexander Bolton contributed.