House Democrats must keep minimum wage hike in COVID-19 relief bill for Friday vote

House Democrats will leave a provision to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour in their version of the COVID-19 relief package which will be voted on Friday despite a Senate parliamentarian ruling that the measure is not in line with fiscal rules.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi Senators did not give a timeline for National Guard withdrawal, Capitol fence Democratic fury with GOP explodes in House Republicans try to appeal fine for metal detector bypass at the exterior of the room PLUS (D-Calif.) Called the Senate parliamentarian’s decision “disappointing” in a statement Thursday night, but said the House would still vote on the $ 1.9 trillion relief package on Friday with the increase in minimum wage.

Democrats will then leave it to the Senate to remove the provision when it reaches the upper house.

“House Democrats believe the minimum wage hike is necessary. Therefore, this provision will remain in the US bailout on the ground tomorrow, “Pelosi said.” Tomorrow, when we adopt the American bailout, the American people will know that help is on the way. “

Pelosi added that House Democrats are “determined to pursue all possible paths in the fight for 15” but did not elaborate on other options.

The Senate parliamentarian ruled earlier Thursday evening that the provision, which would raise the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour by 2025, did not comply with the obscure budget rules needed to pass under the known process under the name of reconciliation.

The process would allow Democrats to pass their COVID-19 relief package by a simple majority.

Even though the minimum wage will not be part of the final relief package, Democrats are still determined to show their support for the progressive priority.

Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee Bobby scottRobert (Bobby) Cortez Scott Full COVID recovery requires minimum wage increase Pelosi slams GOP on Greene: ‘The enemy is inside’ Democrats reintroduce minimum wage MORE (D-Va.) Said in a statement Thursday that “the decision of the Senate parliamentarian has no bearing on the House and should not force the House to throw in the towel on such a critical issue.”

“I firmly believe that the House should send the Senate a relief package with the minimum wage provision and allow the Senate to overcome procedural hurdles,” Scott said.

While centrist Democratic Sens. Joe manchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinKlain on Manchin’s objection to Neera Tanden: He’s “not responding to us in the White House” Klain says Harris would not cancel MP on minimum wage hike. Biden signs supply chain order after ‘positive’ meeting with lawmakers READ MORE (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona) have expressed their opposition to increasing the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour, which is very popular among House Democrats.

All but six House Democrats voted for a bill to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour in 2019. And of those six, all but Rep. Kurt schraderWalter (Kurt) Kurt Schrader Democrats face unity test on Biden’s .9T bill Senate Democrats set to face key 2022 budget unity test What I learned in 19 Weeks Working With Progressive Democrats PLUS (Ore.) Lost re-election in November.

The Senate did not take over the bill in 2019 since it was controlled by the Republicans at the time. If House Democrats were to pass a separate bill to raise the minimum wage, it would be subject to a 60-vote threshold to remove an obstruction in the Senate.

Manchin suggested raising the minimum wage to $ 11 an hour instead, but progressives rejected the idea.

Following the parliamentarian’s decision on Thursday night, progressives in both houses of Congress expressed frustration, proposing alternatives to pursue their minimum wage goal.

Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Bernie sandersBernie SandersKlain Says Harris Would Not Cancel Parliamentarian Over Minimum Wage Rise Romney-Cotton, Cancun Taxi Driver, Minimum Wage Money Debate: Senate signs postpone Tanden meetings in negative sign | Biden signs supply chain order after ‘positive’ meeting with lawmakers READ MORE (I-Vt.) Proposed a Plan B in the form of an amendment to the relief program that would eliminate tax breaks for large companies that do not have a minimum wage of $ 15 an hour and provide incentives to small businesses to increase their workforce. Pay.

“This amendment needs to be included in this reconciliation bill,” Sanders said.

President of the Progressive Congressional Caucus Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalBill would cut pension for president convicted of felony Democrats deadlock over minimum wage Democrats face unity test on Biden’s .9T bill MORE (D-Wash.) Said Democrats “can and always should include the minimum wage increase in the bill” and called for changes to Senate rules so it can be included.

“We just can’t go back to the black, brown, AAPI, native, poor and working class voters who handed over the White House and Senate majority to us and tell them that an unelected parliamentarian briefed us – on the obscure rule base – that we couldn’t raise the minimum wage like we promised, ”Jayapal said.

The House is expected to pass the $ 1.9 trillion relief package on Friday night. The comprehensive legislation includes a third round of stimulus checks of up to $ 1,400 to individuals, renewed UI benefits and $ 130 billion to help K-12 schools reopen for classroom instruction in no one.

Democrats plan to send the relief package to President BidenJoe BidenKlain on Manchin’s Objection to Neera Tanden: He’s “ not responding to us at the White House ” Senators have no timeline on National Guard pullout, Capitol Defense fence overnight: new chairman of the armed forces of the Senate talks about a candidate for Pentagon politics, Afghanistan, more | Biden reads report on Khashoggi murder | Austin highlights vaccine safety in new video LEARN MOREthe office before current UI benefits expire on March 14.

The Senate is expected to resume the relief package next week after the House passes on Friday. The House would then vote again on any changes to the bill the following week.

Updated at 9:37 p.m.