Biden’s $1.9tn relief package struggles through Senate but majority leaders vows passage ‘however long it takes’
A fiery speech and last-ditch effort by Bernie Sanders to secure a place for a federal minimum wage hike in the $1.9tn coronavirus relief package appeared as good as doomed on Friday, as Joe Biden’s flagship legislation hit grinding delays in the Senate.
As Senate Democrats reluctantly moved past that battle, they lurched into another roadblock as an apparent deal between progressives and moderates over unemployment benefits threatened to derail the sweeping stimulus bill.
A job in the United States of America should lift you out of poverty, not keep you in it
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) gives forceful speech on his proposed amendment to raise the federal minimum wage to $15/hour:
“This is a bill which will answer a profound question: Are we living in a democratic society … ?” pic.twitter.com/qrz4LjQFWq
The 8 senators:
• Joe Manchin (West Va. )
• Jon Tester (Mt.)
• Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.)
• Angus King (Maine)
• Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.)
• Tom Carper (Del.)
• Chris Coons (Del.)
• Maggie Hassan (N.H.) https://t.co/uEd1famnIv
Related: Joe Biden says his hands are tied on a $15 minimum wage. That’s not true | David Sirota
The compromise amendment achieves that while helping to address the surprise tax bills that many are facing by eliminating the first $10,200 of UI benefits from taxation for 2020. Combined, this amendment would provide more relief to the unemployed than the current legislation.