Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersThe Nation reporter says the states’ voting order is “critical” in the Manchin presidential primaries to oppose Biden’s choice of Neera Tanden. We knew that the media would spoil Biden – this is why it is so much MORE (I-Vt.) He said on Saturday that he is “confident” that his proposal to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour will remain in the coronavirus relief package that Democrats are trying to go through the budget reconciliation process.
The increase in the federal minimum wage came as a lightning rod in the $ 1.9 trillion package, with progressives firmly supporting the measure and centrists saying they support a minor bump. It is also unclear whether the Senate congressman would approve the minimum wage increase in accordance with budgetary reconciliation parameters.
“Raising the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour is not incidental to the federal budget and is allowed by the reconciliation rules,” said Sanders in a statement. “The CBO [Congressional Budget Office] found that the $ 15 minimum wage has a much greater impact on the federal budget than opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to prospect for oil and revoking individual mandate penalties – two provisions that the parliamentarian advised did not violate the Byrd’s rule when Republicans controlled the Senate. “
“I am confident that the parliamentarian will warn us next week that we can raise the minimum wage through the reconciliation process,” he added.
The Byrd Rule requires that a portion of the legislation has an effect on the federal budget and that it is not “merely accidental” to that effect, in order to qualify for reconciliation.
Sanders pointed to a CBO report that determined that raising the minimum wage to $ 15 would increase the deficit by $ 54 billion over a decade.
The report found that the wage increase would lift almost one million people out of poverty, but could lead to the elimination of 1.4 million jobs.
However, even if the increase in the minimum wage is approved by the parliamentarian, he still faces a difficult legislative battle to reach a final package. The provision was included in a House bill released on Friday, but centrist Sens. Joe Manchin
Joseph (Joe) ManchinHouse’s panel reveals relief package .9T Biden will not be able to nominate Tanden, says he will receive votes On The Money: What’s next for Neera Tanden’s nomination MORE (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) Spoke out, raising questions about whether a bill with the increase could get 50 votes in the upper house.