Two Democrats sided with all Republicans to not allow the bill to pass; Jared Golden (Maine) and Kurt Schrader (Oregon).
The WinePress has detailed some of what is contained in the bill in previous reports, but is has gone through some revisions since then.
More Deceased Americans Will Receive Stimulus Checks
According to Vox, The bill includes some big-ticket items that would deliver important relief to businesses, workers, and the broader economy. It includes $1,400 stimulus checks for those making up to $75,000, $400 expanded weekly unemployment insurance benefits through August 29, and billions of dollars for arenas such as schools, state and local governments, and restaurants. It also increases Affordable Care Act subsidies for low- and middle-income Americans and expands both the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit.
The bill also includes the debated $15 minimum wage hike, even though the Senate ruled that the package cannot include the $15 minimum wage hike.
ZeroHedge writes,
Democrats are using budget reconciliation, which allows passage of some legislation with only 51 votes in the Senate, rather than the 60 if the opposition filibusters. The Dems have 51 votes if Vice President Kamala Harris is asked to vote upon a tie-breaking, which means Dems could push Biden’s agenda through.
However, the parliamentarian’s ruling underscores the bill’s fragility as it reaches the Senate – where it only takes one Dem to doom Biden’s rescue package.
Already, centralist Dems, such as Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, have balked at the idea of increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour.
Others, such as the more progressive wing of the party, like Vermont independent Bernie Sanders, have stood tall on their support to include the bill’s $15 minimum wage increase.
Bear in mind that Republicans have introduced their 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.
Read more at ZeroHedge.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
We will see what happens concerning this bill as well. I do not know how the minimum wage will get passed if it has already been ruled that it cannot be in the package to begin with. I would think this bill is also dead on arrival, and the politicians will continue to dangle easy money like a carrot, again; but we will have to wait and see.
It goes without saying that the minimum wage hike would destroy the rest of retail, restaurants, hospitality, and so many other jobs. And with more stimulus, that means more debt creation. Working even harder and to earn less.
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