Setback in minimum wage revives progressive calls to nix Senate filibuster

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A Senate official’s ruling against the Democrats’ $ 15 minimum wage hike in the next coronavirus bill has revived calls for an end to the Senate filibuster.

Democrats are trying to pass the legislation through reconciliation, an accelerated process that allows them to bypass the legislative filibuster of 60 votes. Therefore, every provision in the bill must comply with mysterious budget rules.

Senate MP Elizabeth MacDonough ruled Thursday that raising the minimum wage in the $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus bill is not in line with fiscal rules.

The decision was a blow to progressives, who saw the measure as an important provision for the emergency.

Progressive senators took to Twitter after Thursday’s ruling to voice their frustration at the decision and to call for the filibuster’s destruction.

Her. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenBecerra says he wants to ‘build’ on ObamaCare when pushed for Medicare for All Yellen Deputy Adeyemo on track for swift confirmation Menendez reintroduces corporate diversity law MORE (D-Mass) tweeted Thursday, “Democrats should not be held hostage by [Sen.] Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Clain on Manchin’s objection to Neera Tanden: he ‘won’t answer us in the White House’ Democratic anger with GOP explodes in House Murkowski doesn’t decide Teeth as nomination in limbo MORE [R-Ky.] to help struggling families. It’s time to get rid of the filibuster to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 and approve the other bold policies the Americans voted for us. ”

Warren, a former Democratic presidential nominee for 2020, has called on the Senate to abolish the filibuster earlier, stating that the next time the Democrats have power, the move should be made.

“So let me be as clear as possible about this. When the Democrats have the next power, we have to be brave: we are done with two sets of rules – one for the Republicans and one for the Democrats,” she said in 2019, according to. a report from Politico.

Her. Alex PadillaAlex PadillaBiden’s Choices Are At Risk in 50-50 Senate Menendez Reintroduces Corporate Diversity Account States Paying Billions in Fraudulent Unemployment Claims MORE (D-Calif.) Tweeted “stop the filibuster. Increase the minimum wage.”

But despite calls from lawmakers, Senate Democrats likely won’t be able to successfully destroy the filibuster. Democrats would need all 50 members of their caucus to appeal to the “nuclear option,” which would end the filibuster by a simple majority.

Moderate Democrats such as Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinKlain on Manchin’s objection to Neera Tanden: “He’s not answering us in the White House” Klain says Harris would not dismiss the MP on minimum wage increases. On The Money: Senate Panels Postpone Teeth Meetings With Negative Sign Biden Signs Supply Chain Order After ‘Positive’ Meeting With Lawmakers MORE (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) Have already said they would oppose getting rid of the filibuster, and several other members have expressed no opinion on the move in any way.

Talks about the filibuster also came up last month, when Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Tried to keep the filibuster as he and majority leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerHillicon Valley: Biden signs order on chips | Hearing on Misinformation in the Media | Facebook’s deal with Australia | CIA Nominee at SolarWinds House Rules Releases New Text of COVID-19 Embossed Bill Budowsky: Cruz Goes to Cancun, AOC Goes to Texas MORE (DN.Y.) negotiated a power-sharing agreement for the evenly distributed room.

McConnell dropped the provision after Manchin and Sinema said they would not support the ending of the filibuster, and the Senate eventually approved the power-sharing measure.

Still, some progressive lawmakers on Thursday night urged the Senate to end the filibuster to pass a $ 15 minimum wage.

Her. Brian dearBrian Emanuel Schatz Little-known Senate referee to play a big role in Biden’s contingency plan Two sides propose bill to lift the rule, putting USPS Warren a major financial burden on joining the financial panel that oversees taxation and health care (D-Hawaii), also knocked the proceedings on Twitter, saying, “The filibuster was never in the constitution, was largely accidental, and has historically been used to block civil rights. No legislature on Earth has a super-majority requirement, because that is stupid and paralyzing. It’s time to ditch the Jim Crow filibuster. ”

Her. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott Murphy New Rule Shakes Senate Armed Services Subcommittees Biden Promises Action Against Weapons Amid Backlash Sunday Shows – Trump Acquittal in Second Impeachment Trial Echoes MORE (D-Conn.) Also tweeted “the filibuster is killing democracy.”

After MacDonough’s verdict, House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi Senators Don’t Get Timeline On National Guard Removal, Capitol Fence Democratic Fury With GOP Explodes In House House Republican Attempts To Appeal Fine For Bypassing Metal Detector Outside Room MORE (D-Calif.) Said the minimum wage increase will still be included in the bill when the House votes on it, leaving it to the Senate to remove the language.

Updated 11:00 PM

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