Housemates could delay Congress with the passage of Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 billion stimulus package – which includes the highly anticipated $ 1,400 relief checks – to keep the $ 15 minimum wage increase in the sprawling bill.
Progressive lawmakers warned the Democratic leadership on Friday that they could withhold their vote for the legislation if the Senate removes the pay rise. Their opposition could send the package back to renegotiate, which would further impede the passage of the bill.
“There are progressive Democrats who have the muscle in the House. If we as a party decide on our promise to raise the minimum wage, I think it’s extremely untrue and that’s something we as a party can have a further discussion about. on how to fight for it, ‘said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after suggesting that progressive party leaders should put pressure on them by holding back their votes in the same way that moderate Democrats did to oppose the package.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the House of Representatives passed the enlightenment bill largely along party lines in a 219-212 vote. Two Democrats – Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon – broke up with the party to oppose legislation that Republicans in the lower house were unanimous to vote against.
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Aid legislation is now progressing to the Senate, where the $ 15 minimum wage increase is expected to be amended. It will then be sent back to the House for another vote.
The House bill includes raising the federal minimum wage by 2025, a measure that strongly opposes Republicans and some moderate Democrats. However, Senator Elizabeth MacDonough, an impartial interpreter of chamber rules, recently said it did not meet the requirements of reconciliation.
Senate Democrats have paved the way to use the budget process to push through legislation by a simple majority, as the chamber is evenly divided with Vice President Kamala Harris to have the vote. But with MacDonough’s ruling, party members are now spending the weekend exploring other ways to pass the measure.
Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington, chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told reporters that Democrats could lose support from progressive people if they do not find a way to include the wage increase.
“I do not think we can go back to voters and say, ‘Look, I know Republicans, Democrats, Independents support this; we promised it, but because of an unelected Member of Parliament who gave our verdict, we could not do it. no., ‘”she said. “There are a lot of good things in the package, but if it’s watered down, it’s a whole different matter. So we have to see how it ends.”
On Friday, Ocasio-Cortez also warned the Biden government that the minimum wage debate “is the basis for how effective we will be for the rest of the term.”
Jayapal insisted on Harris dominating MacDonough. Although the vice president has authority to replace the parliamentarian’s decision, she is not expected to do so.
Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said on Thursday that he would introduce an amendment that would “take away tax deductions from large, profitable businesses that do not pay workers at least $ 15 an hour and give small businesses the incentives they need. has to raise wages. ‘
Newsweek contacted the home office, Nancy Pelosi, for comment.