Biden says $15 minimum wage won’t survive Covid relief talks, promises to push for pay hike later

President Joe Biden acknowledged this weekend that it is unlikely a $15 federal minimum wage provision makes it into the next Covid-19 relief equipment, hitting stop on a key campaign promise as Democrats in Congress press forward to pass $1.9 trillion in stimulus with out Republican reinforce.

Biden acknowledged his administration would push for a stand-on my own invoice to elevate the minimum wage.

“I build apart it in but I don’t reflect its going to survive,” Biden told CBS’ Norah O’Donnell in an interview scheduled to air in corpulent on Sunday. “My bet is it may per chance most likely well not be in [the stimulus bill].”

Democrats in Congress appreciate moved to pass the $1.9 trillion stimulus equipment with out Republican reinforce within the Senate the utilization of a parliamentary plot identified as reconciliation. Dwelling Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., acknowledged Friday that the lower chamber objectives to pass the fiscal relief equipment within two weeks.

The finances resolution directs committees to write legislation reflecting Biden’s Covid relief equipment, whereas staying below the $1.9 trillion target. Democrats belief to pass provisions esteem $1,400 converse payments, a $400 per week jobless profit by September, $350 billion in pronounce, local and tribal authorities relief, a $20 billion national Covid vaccination program, and $50 billion for virus sorting out.

The invoice will be doubtless to encompass $170 billion for Okay-12 colleges and elevated educations institutions and $30 billion for hire and utility assistance.

Republicans oppose together with a wage hike within the Covid-19 relief equipment warning it may per chance most likely well build apart added strain on firms already grappling with the industrial fallout of the pandemic. And West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin also opposes the pay magnify, that formulation Democrats must soundless not appreciate the votes to pass it even with a straightforward majority below reconciliation.

While Biden acknowledged the $15 per hour wage provision would be unlikely to kill it within the Covid relief invoice, he promised to prioritize passing the wage hike in separate legislation.

“I’m prepared because the president of the US on a separate negotiation on minimum wage to work my formulation up from what it is now,” Biden acknowledged. “Nobody must soundless work 40 hours a week and stay before the poverty wage and also that you may per chance well smartly be making lower than $15 an hour, that you may per chance well smartly be living below the poverty wage.”

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