A Senate official's ruling against Democrats' $15 minimum wage hike in the next coronavirus bill has revived calls to end the Senate filibuster. Democrats are trying to pass the legislation through reconciliation, a fast-track process that lets them bypass the 60-vote legislative filibuster. Therefore, every provision included in the bill needs to pass the arcane budget rules. Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled on Thursday that boosting the minimum wage in the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill does not comply with budget rules. ADVERTISEMENT The decision was a blow to progressives, who saw the measure as a key provision of the relief bill. Progressive senators took to Twitter after the ruling Thursday to express their frustration with the decision and to call for the nixing of the filibuster. Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth Warren Minimum wage setback revives progressive calls to nix Senate filibuster Democratic strategists start women-run media consulting firm Becerra says he wants to 'build on' ObamaCare when pressed on Medicare for All MORE (D-Mass) tweeted on Thursday “Democrats should not be held hostage by [Sen.] Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Minimum wage setback revives progressive calls to nix Senate filibuster Schiff sees challenges for intel committee, community in Trump's shadow McConnell says he'd back Trump as 2024 GOP nominee MORE [R-Ky.] to help struggling families. It is time to get rid of the filibuster to raise the minimum wage to $15 and pass the other bold policies that Americans voted for us to deliver.” Democrats should not be held hostage by Mitch McConnell to help struggling families. It is time to get rid of the filibuster to raise the minimum wage to $15 and pass the other bold policies that Americans voted for us to deliver. https://t.co/hc91pKrIq3 — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 26, 2021 ...
The filibuster
Senate confirms former Michigan governor Granholm as Energy secretary
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Jennifer Granholm Jennifer Granholm OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate confirms former Michigan governor Granholm as Energy secretary | GOP bill would codify Trump rule on financing for fossil fuels, guns | Kennedy apologizes for calling Haaland a 'whack job' Senate confirms former Michigan governor Granholm as Energy secretary The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Divided House on full display MORE to lead the Energy Department, making her the latest Cabinet nominee to secure confirmation this week. She was confirmed in a 64-35 vote, with 14 Republicans joining all 50 Senate Democrats in supporting her nomination. Granholm, who served as governor of Michigan from 2003-2011, will be tasked with helping President Biden Joe Biden Biden 'disappointed' in Senate parliamentarian ruling but 'respects' decision Taylor Swift celebrates House passage of Equality Act Donald Trump Jr. calls Bruce Springsteen's dropped charges 'liberal privilege' MORE transition the U.S. toward clean energy as part of his goal to put the country on a path toward carbon neutrality by 2050. ADVERTISEMENT Her supporters have praised the work she did on jobs and clean energy in Michigan. “I saw how she handled the difficult challenges facing her during the Great Recession, when the bottom dropped out of the auto industry in her state,” said Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) Manchin Minimum wage setback revives progressive calls to nix Senate filibuster Biden 'disappointed' in Senate parliamentarian ruling but 'respects' decision House Democrats to keep minimum wage hike in COVID-19 relief bill for Friday vote MORE (D-W.Va.). “She helped save the domestic auto industry; she diversified Michigan’s economy; she brought in new investment in new industry and she created new jobs, leaving no worker behind.” “She has the leadership skills, the vision and the compassion ... to face the ...
House Democrats to keep minimum wage hike in COVID-19 relief bill for Friday vote
House Democrats will leave a provision to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in their version of the COVID-19 relief package set for a vote on Friday despite a ruling from the Senate parliamentarian that the measure does not comply with budgetary rules. Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi Minimum wage setback revives progressive calls to nix Senate filibuster House Democrats to keep minimum wage hike in COVID-19 relief bill for Friday vote Schiff sees challenges for intel committee, community in Trump's shadow MORE (D-Calif.) called the Senate parliamentarian's ruling "disappointing" in a statement on Thursday night but said that the House will still vote on the $1.9 trillion relief package on Friday with the minimum wage increase. Democrats will then leave it up to the Senate to remove the provision when it reaches the upper chamber. ADVERTISEMENT “House Democrats believe that the minimum wage hike is necessary. Therefore, this provision will remain in the American Rescue Plan on the floor tomorrow," Pelosi said. “Tomorrow, when we pass the American Rescue Plan, the American people will know that Help Is On The Way.” Pelosi added that House Democrats are "determined to pursue every possible path in the Fight For 15" but didn't specify the other options. The Senate parliamentarian ruled earlier Thursday night that the provision, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025, did not comply with arcane budget rules needed for it to pass under the process known as reconciliation. The process would allow Democrats to pass their COVID-19 relief package with a simple majority. Even though the minimum wage won't make it into the final relief package, Democrats are still determined to show support for the progressive priority. ADVERTISEMENT House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott Robert (Bobby) Cortez Scott House Democrats to keep minimum wage hike in COVID-19 ...
Pelosi jokes about Sen. ‘Don’ Johnson
Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi Minimum wage setback revives progressive calls to nix Senate filibuster House Democrats to keep minimum wage hike in COVID-19 relief bill for Friday vote Schiff sees challenges for intel committee, community in Trump's shadow MORE (D-Calif.) referred to Sen. Ron Johnson Ronald (Ron) Harold Johnson Cruz hires Trump campaign press aide as communications director Pelosi: Dems want commission focused on Capitol mob attack Pelosi jokes about Sen. 'Don' Johnson MORE (R-Wis.) as “ Don Johnson ” in a press briefing Thursday, seemingly jabbing at the Wisconsin senator while saying he appeared to be “taking the lead” on the GOP response to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. “Don Johnson— was his first name Don?” Pelosi said to reporters Thursday. After being corrected, Pelosi jokingly responded “Let me call him ‘senator,' not ‘Miami Vice’ or anything like that.” House Speaker Pelosi accidentally calls Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) “Don Johnson” of Miami Vice. pic.twitter.com/c7YDtdonDV — The Recount (@therecount) February 25, 2021 ADVERTISEMENT “Ron Johnson seems to be taking the lead on what the scope would be of how we look at protecting our country from domestic terrorism,” she continued. The reference led to the “Miami Vice” and "Knives Out" star’s name trending on Twitter, with numerous users speculating Pelosi's misnaming of the Wisconsin senator was a deliberate slight. Among those taking notice were “Saturday Night Live's” Chris Redd, who currently co-stars with Don Johnson on the sitcom “Kenan.” My dawg @DonJohnson on top of mind of those at the top! love that https://t.co/EP4Djh0JBd — Chris Redd (@Reddsaidit) February 25, 2021 Ron Johnson, who is up for reelection in 2022, has become a top Senate target for Democrats due to his vocal backing of former President Trump Donald Trump Donald Trump Jr. calls Bruce Springsteen's dropped charges ...
U.S. House to vote on $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that includes $1,400 payments
WASHINGTON — Democrats are ready to shove a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package through the House on Friday, despite a setback that means a minimum wage boost is unlikely to be in the final version that reaches President Joe Biden. A near party-line vote seemed certain on the measure, Biden’s first crack at his initial legislative goal of acting decisively against the pandemic. In the year since the coronavirus has taken hold, it has stalled much of the economy, killed half a million Americans and reshaped the daily lives of virtually everyone. The relief bill would provide millions of people with $1,400 direct payments. It contains billions of dollars for vaccines and COVID-19 testing, schools, state and local governments, the ailing restaurant and airline industries and emergency jobless benefits while providing tax breaks to lower earners and families with children. Republicans oppose the sweeping measure, saying it’s too expensive, not targeted enough at the people and businesses that most need it and a grab bag of gifts for Democratic allies. Not one has publicly said they will support the legislation, an ominous sign that the partisan gulf that has enveloped Washington for decades shows no sign of closing. The House bill would also hoist the federal minimum wage to $15 hourly by 2025, more than doubling the current $7.25 floor that’s been in effect since 2019. But that proposal seemed highly likely to die in the Senate after that chamber’s parliamentarian said Thursday that the cherished progressive goal must be dropped from the relief legislation, Senate Democratic aides said. The finding by Elizabeth MacDonough, the chamber’s nonpartisan arbiter of its rules, means Democrats face an overwhelmingly uphill battle to boost the minimum wage this year in the face of solid Republican opposition. Biden, a supporter of the $15 increase, was “disappointed” in the outcome but respected the parliamentarian’s ruling, White House press secretary Jen ...
