Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) Said in an interview with Politico that she does not support raising the federal minimum wage to $ 15 per hour as part of the $ 1.9 billion coronavirus aid package being considered by Congress.
Why it matters: The opposition to the $ 15 minimum wage provision from Cinema and Senator Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) – another moderate Democrat who has a lot of influence in a 50-50 Senate – is a big blow to President Biden’s hopes to pass it through budget reconciliation, enabling the Senate to bypass the usual 60-vote threshold.
- House President Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has said the minimum wage provision will be $ 15 in the House Bill she plans to send to the Senate over the next two weeks.
- But Biden himself acknowledged this week that the most important campaign promise is unlikely to reach the final rescue package approved by Congress. He said he would work in a stand-alone account for it.
What they say: ‘What matters is whether it is directly related to COVID short-term relief. And if it is not, I will not support it in this legislation, “Sinema told Politico. ‘The minimum wage provision is not suitable for the reconciliation process. This is not a budget item. And it should not be in it. ”
The whole picture: Cinema, like Manchin, is opposed to eliminating the legislative filibuster with 60 votes to pass major progressive priorities. “I want to restore the 60-vote threshold for all elements of the Senate’s work,” the 44-year-old Arizona senator told Politico.
Go deeper: CBO says $ 15 minimum wage will increase unemployment but lift 900,000 out of poverty