House Democrats approved President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion emergency spending package in a 219-212 vote on Saturday morning, sending legislation to the Senate as lawmakers rushed to prevent insurance expiration- improved unemployment in mid-March.
The stimulus plan emptied the chamber with Republicans united in their resistance. Two Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the legislation.
The package includes stimulus checks of $ 1,400 for taxpayers, $ 400 in federal unemployment benefits, aid to state and local governments and funds for vaccines. Democrats say it will form a critical pillar in the country’s struggle against the pandemic and the economic malaise it has caused.
“The sooner we pass the bill and it is signed, the sooner we can make the progress that this legislation is about – saving the lives and livelihood of the American people,” spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Friday. .
But Republicans criticized the proposal, arguing that many of its provisions are unrelated to the pandemic. House minority leader Kevin McCarthy of Texas said at a news conference that the legislation
“We already know what is the best stimulus plan that exists: it is to completely reopen our economy,” he said. “To do this, we need our economy to return to work, school and health.”
Senate Democrats will pass the legislation next week, and they are racing to pass it before reinforced unemployment insurance expires in mid-March. But they face difficult decisions that can trigger some confrontations.
The House bill includes a $ 15 minimum wage, but the Senate congressman ordered him removed from the plan on Thursday night. The recommendation means that the device, a key progressive priority, violates the strict reconciliation guidelines under which Democrats are trying to pass the bill with 51 votes in the Senate.
Senior Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, are teaming up behind a backup plan along with Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Their proposal would impose a tax fine on large companies that do not pay workers at least $ 15 an hour.
Small businesses would receive tax credits equivalent to up to 25% of their payroll if they increased workers’ wages. Some business groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce, say they oppose the measure.
“No more political games,” Neal Bradley, policy director for the Chamber of Commerce, tweeted on Friday. “The business community believes that an agreement can be reached with a fair minimum wage increase. R&D members say the same thing. It is time for Senator Sanders and others to focus on a reasonable compromise.”
Some progressives in the House have asked Democrats to stick to campaign promises for a pay rise.
“I don’t think we can go back to the voters and say, ‘Look, I know that Republicans, Democrats and independents support this, we promise, but because of an unelected congressman who gave us a decision, we couldn’t do that,’ ‘ Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, president of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told reporters, “No one is going to buy this.”