- The Senate initiated a “vote-a-rama” on Friday by voting for a minimum wage of $ 15.
- But the process was halted because of a last-minute confrontation over unemployment benefits.
- Schumer said Democrats would approve the stimulus bill later this weekend.
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The Senate initiated a “vote-a-rama” on Friday with a vote of a minimum wage of $ 15 an hour, but the process was halted due to a late confrontation over the unemployment insurance package. democrat. He highlighted the delicate form of the Democratic majority.
Senate Democrats agreed on a last-minute change to the relief bill, cutting federal unemployment insurance to $ 300 a week instead of $ 400. August, as in the version of the Chamber’s legislation. He also waived tax payments on the first $ 10,200 in unemployment benefits. The White House endorsed the plan.
But Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia seemed reluctant to support the new plan, according to a person familiar with the internal discussions. He opposed the duration and size of the benefit.
Instead, he considered voting on a duel amendment by Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio. This proposal would extend a weekly benefit of $ 300 until June 18. It would not include any tax breaks for the unemployed, some of whom could receive a surprise tax bill later this year.
Manchin’s resistance led the proceedings to a complete standstill for at least seven hours and counting on Friday. Negotiations were underway to attract their support so that the voting-a-rama could resume. Republicans were quick to attack Democrats for error.
“We believe there is a bipartisanship to change the bill,” Sen. Lindsay Graham, of South Carolina, told a news conference. “But apparently, this is an unforgivable sin on the other side.”
The delay underscored the fragile state of the Democratic majority in an equally divided Senate. His advantage of a vote over Republicans in the House – with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker – means that any Democratic legislative effort can be derailed without all the Senate Democrats on board.
“In a 50-50 Senate, every vote is precious. Every vote is important,” said Zach Moller, deputy director of economic policy at Third Way, a centrist study center. “If Democrats want to control the bill, they need to have unanimity in their party.”
Any major changes to the bill could provoke a revolt among progressives in the House, who criticize a provision for a minimum wage of $ 15 an hour that was launched in the Senate. Democrats rushed to pass the bill before March 14, the date when the increased unemployment benefits begin to expire.
“If it reaches a certain level, it may be necessary to renegotiate with the House and the White House,” Sen. Ben Cardin, of Maryland, told reporters. He said it was not a “desirable” outcome and added that “time is running out”.
A lengthy process that is likely to be completed over the weekend
Vote-a-rama is a lengthy process in which some Democrats and Republicans will offer amendments to modify the $ 1.9 trillion stimulus bill. Democrats have finalized changes to legislation in recent days, including tightening eligibility for a third stimulus check and adjusting aid formulas for state and local aid.
The possible changes in unemployment benefits under the legislation raised concerns of experts that summer that it would be too soon for the federal government to stop benefit programs.
“People will still be unemployed for the long term over the summer,” Andrew Stettner, a left-wing senior member of the Century Foundation, told Insider. “People would not have enough money to survive when there are not many job opportunities out there.”
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said the procedure could take many hours. But the Democrats intended to approve the bill sometime over the weekend.
“The Senate is going to get a lot of votes. But we are going to approve and finish this bill, no matter how long it takes,” he said on Friday. “The American people are counting on us and our nation depends on it.”
Senate Democrats opened proceedings with an 11 am vote to restore the bill’s $ 15 an hour minimum wage. Technically, it was still underway on Friday afternoon, as Democrats are working to resolve their dispute over unemployment benefits before moving on.
The plan is set to be defeated in a 58-42 vote. All 50 Republican senators voted against, plus seven Democrats and an independent who agrees with the Democrats.
The non-Republican senators in the opposition were Jon Tester, from Montana; Joe Manchin, of West Virginia; Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona; Chris Coons from Delaware; Tom Carper from Delaware; Angus King of Maine; Jeanne Shaheen, from New Hampshire; and Maggie Hassan, from Maine.
The Senate congressman violated this part of the relief legislation, judging it to be out of bounds with Senate guidelines last month. Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said on Friday that he believes the official is “completely wrong” in the measure.
“It is an absurd process to allow an unelected employee … to decide whether 30 million Americans will receive a salary increase or not,” Sanders said during a speech.
Republicans are vehemently opposed to the $ 15 an hour minimum wage in the Senate. They argue that rising wages during a recession would cost many jobs and worsen unemployment.
This story will be updated.