Fri Mar 5, 2021, 02:56 PM

Minimum wage hike falls short as Senate debates virus bill

Source: AP

By ALAN FRAM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate seemingly killed progressives’ last-ditch effort to include a minimum wage hike in the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill Friday, as the chamber began climactic votes on the huge package embodying President Joe Biden’s top legislative priority.

Senators voted 58-42 against the increase, though the vote wasn’t yet formally gaveled to a close. Eight Democrats voted against the proposal, suggesting that Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and other progressives vowing to continue the fight in coming months will face a difficult fight.

Though the number of Democrats opposing the proposal was a surprise, its defeat was not. Solid Republican opposition had guaranteed in advance that proponents would fall well short of the 60 votes needed to win. The proposal would boost the federal minimum wage to $15 hourly by 2025, up from its current $7.25.

The overall bill, aimed at battling the killer virus and nursing the staggered economy back to health, will provide direct payments of up to $1,400 to most Americans. There’s also money for COVID-19 vaccines and testing, aid to state and local governments, help for schools and the airline industry, tax breaks for lower-earners and families with children, and subsidies for health insurance.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 5, 2021, as the Senate steers toward a voting marathon on the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that's expected to end with the chamber's approval of the measure. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/senate-nears-virus-relief-bill-vote-fa965b1b413d811ad10549b3460c6643

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26 replies	Author	Time	Post
Minimum wage hike falls short as Senate debates virus bill (Original post)	Omaha Steve	Mar 5	OP
Hey who needs the cons we apparently have enough in our party	Fullduplexxx	Mar 5	#1
Manchin and Sinema were against the minimum wage hike	IronLionZion	Mar 5	#2
Seems to me that the amendment voted down was really to IGNORE the Parliamentarian.	Hoyt	Mar 5	#3
That is technically correct	frazzled	Mar 5	#6
+1	CaptainTruth	Mar 5	#11
The Parlimentarian said it couldn't be in the bill...	CaptainTruth	Mar 5	#10
Think it's mistake to ignore Parliamentarian. Worse, if we did, it might sink/delay relief bill.	Hoyt	Mar 5	#12
Back to the status quo politics of the last 4 decades.	CentralMass	Mar 5	#4
Indeed...and don't think voters won't remember this in 2020 and 2024...	regnaD kciN	Mar 5	#20
The relief bill is a good bill, and we only got it because we have a majority and we only have	Demsrule86	Mar 6	#24
Who were the 8 Democrats that voted no?	Polybius	Mar 5	#5
Here	frazzled	Mar 5	#7
Thank you!	Polybius	Mar 5	#8
Interestingly	frazzled	Mar 5	#9
It wasn't a vote on the $15 minimum wage, it was a vote on including it improperly in THIS bill.	George II	Mar 5	#23
It was more than Manchin and Sinema. Interesting....	LovingA2andMI	Mar 5	#16
Well life would be so much better if Mitch was majority leader for sure...I mean	Demsrule86	Mar 6	#25
It doesn't really matter. It's the DC shuffle. Same as it's always been.	CentralMass	Mar 5	#13
As long as we use Citizens' United as the $$$ standard for election financing,	Tommymac	Mar 5	#15
Lets see New Hampshire just passed a "Right for Less" law	turbinetree	Mar 5	#14
The wage hike didn't fail, including it in the reconciliation bill (against Senate rules) failed....	George II	Mar 5	#17
Bullshit reporting... something I'd expect from hack writers at Politico.	NurseJackie	Mar 5	#18
Do a standalone bill to raise it to $8.50.	oldsoftie	Mar 5	#19
No, not a single Republican will go for that...	regnaD kciN	Mar 5	#21
Just handle it on a state by state level	MichMan	Mar 5	#22
Always remember never forget	Marthe48	Mar 6	#26

Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Fri Mar 5, 2021, 03:01 PM

Fullduplexxx (4,342 posts)

Minimum wage hike falls short as Senate debates virus bill

1. Hey who needs the cons we apparently have enough in our party

2. Manchin and Sinema were against the minimum wage hike

3. Seems to me that the amendment voted down was really to IGNORE the Parliamentarian.

6. That is technically correct

11. +1

10. The Parlimentarian said it couldn't be in the bill...

12. Think it's mistake to ignore Parliamentarian. Worse, if we did, it might sink/delay relief bill.

4. Back to the status quo politics of the last 4 decades.

20. Indeed...and don't think voters won't remember this in 2020 and 2024...

24. The relief bill is a good bill, and we only got it because we have a majority and we only have

5. Who were the 8 Democrats that voted no?

7. Here

8. Thank you!

9. Interestingly

23. It wasn't a vote on the $15 minimum wage, it was a vote on including it improperly in THIS bill.

16. It was more than Manchin and Sinema. Interesting....

25. Well life would be so much better if Mitch was majority leader for sure...I mean

13. It doesn't really matter. It's the DC shuffle. Same as it's always been.

15. As long as we use Citizens' United as the $$$ standard for election financing,

14. Lets see New Hampshire just passed a "Right for Less" law

17. The wage hike didn't fail, including it in the reconciliation bill (against Senate rules) failed....

18. Bullshit reporting... something I'd expect from hack writers at Politico.

19. Do a standalone bill to raise it to $8.50.

21. No, not a single Republican will go for that...

22. Just handle it on a state by state level

26. Always remember never forget