The Senate parliamentarian just dealt Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders a huge blow and ruled raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour cannot be included in the next relief package to be passed through a process called reconciliation.
“We are deeply disappointed in this decision,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said although he didn’t have the votes so one can say he was relieved.
“We are not going to give up the fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 to help millions of struggling American workers and their families. The American people deserve it, and we are committed to making it a reality,” he added.
Sen. Bernie Sanders was not happy and now wants to tax corporations who don’t pay a $15 minimum per hour.
“As of now, there’s not one Republican who will support a $15 an hour minimum,” he said last night. “The only way that we are going to raise the minimum wage is through reconciliation or ending the filibuster.”
A defiant Pelosi said, “House Democrats believe that the minimum wage hike is necessary. Therefore, this provision will remain in the American Rescue Plan on the Floor tomorrow. Democrats in the House are determined to pursue every possible path in the Fight For 15.”
From Axios:
The other side: Republicans have introduced their own versions of bills to increase the minimum wage.
Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) proposed an increase to $10/hour by 2025. This bill, however, contains a provision that would mandate E-Verify for all employers to ensure the rising wages go to “legally authorized workers,” which likely would not get any Democratic support.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced an alternative to the Democrats’ proposal that would use federal dollars to increase low-earning workers’ income. One foreseeable problem: the subsidy would disproportionally benefit those in states that have kept their minimum wages low.
.@SpeakerPelosi:
“House Democrats believe that the minimum wage hike is necessary. Therefore, this provision will remain in the American Rescue Plan on the Floor tomorrow. Democrats in the House are determined to pursue every possible path in the Fight For 15.”— John Bresnahan (@bresreports) February 26, 2021
I strongly disagree with tonight’s decision by the Senate Parliamentarian. But the fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour continues. pic.twitter.com/pGwrYKjOel
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 26, 2021
Bernie has now offered a plan B: Take away tax benefits for profitable companies that don't pay workers $15 an hour.
Will that have 50 votes?
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) February 26, 2021
