One of President Biden‘s most important programs, a $15-an-hour increase in the basic federal wage, has been defeated in Congress.
The House Democratic Caucus introduced a provision to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, which was ruled by the Senate Legislative Program Officer last week to be inconsistent with special budget regulations and excluded from the Epidemic relief bill. The package bill will enter the Senate for consideration this week, but the Senate Democratic Caucus has backed off with the White House and no longer insists that the minimum wage increase provision must be included in the bill.
President Biden launched a lobbying campaign against Democratic senators on the 1st, hoping to get members of the same party to work together to support the $1.9 trillion epidemic relief bill. The two parties have a 50/50 split in the tight situation, the bailout bill in the Senate to vote, the Democrats can not run a vote. However, a few centrist Democratic senators have raised doubts about the federal unemployment benefit payment structure and the $350 billion bailout for state and local governments.
Biden held a conference call with centrist Democratic senators on the afternoon of the 1st, and will also connect with the Senate Democratic Caucus luncheon call on the 2nd, and is scheduled to speak to the House Democratic Caucus on the evening of the 3rd.
West Virginia Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said he hopes the bill will actually work for each specific program to “help those people who need assistance the most.
Republican U.S. Senator Romney opposed the 1.9 trillion new crown relief bill.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders supported a minimum hourly wage of $15, but was defeated in the Senate.
Recent Comments