Senate Parliamentarian Rules $15 Minimum Wage Cannot Be Included in COVID-19 Stimulus Bill

The Senate parliamentarian ruled Thursday that the $15 per hour minimum wage cannot be included in the Democrats' proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package.

The controversial proposal in the House bill seeks to gradually raise the federal minimum wage, which has been at $7.25 an hour since 2009, to $15 by 2025.

Elizabeth MacDonough, the chief Senate parliamentarian, has decided that the minimum wage increase cannot be included under the budget reconciliation process, according to multiple reports.

Democrats in the House and Senate earlier this month sought to fast track Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package by passing a budget resolution to start the reconciliation process that would allow the bill to move forward by simply majority votes, instead of needing 60 votes threshold to break any possible filibuster before coming to a vote in the tied Senate that gives Vice President Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote.

The decision by the Senate parliamentarian suggests that any minimum wage increase provisions cannot be passed with a simple Senate majority and would require bipartisan support.

"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."

Sen. Lindsay Graham welcomed the decision on Twitter, writing, "Very pleased the Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that a minimum wage increase is an inappropriate policy change in reconciliation. This decision reinforces reconciliation cannot be used as a vehicle to pass major legislative change-by either party-on a simple majority vote. This decision will, over time, reinforce the traditions of the Senate."

https://www.theepochtimes.com/senate-parliamentarian-rules-15-minimum-wage-cannot-be-included-in-covid-19-stimulus-bill_3712004.html