Biden says minimum wage increase looks like it's not 'going to survive' as part of COVID-19 relief p

[ymetca]

Source: USA Today

President Joe Biden said Friday his proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour is unlikely to make it into the final $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package after negotiations with Congress.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/06/joe-biden-minimum-wage-hike-unlikely-covid-19-relief-package/4419484001/

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Predictably disappointing.

Not good news for the mid-terms, I'm afraid, if they can't get this passed. We'll see.

The war on the poor continues, sadly.

[Evergreen Emerald]

1. Seriously we have the house, senate, president

Raise the minimum raise for god's sake! What the hell is wrong with Democrats?

[Loki Liesmith]

10. How do you propose we do it?

[Mr.Bill]

30. I remember reading recently that one time when a Congressman told Nancy Pelosi

that the voters in his district would not like it if he voted a certain way on a bill. She said "educate them".

[sandensea]

61. And therein lies the problem: how to inform voters over a barrage of Chamber of Commerce ads

Not to mention right-wing Super PACs.

[ymetca]

65. They're going to do that anyway

Meanwhile, voters will see themselves getting bigger paychecks and go, hey maybe those Democrats ain't so bad.

[sandensea]

70. True. It's good to see voters voting according to results - not just trigger/hot button issues

We've had enough with the medieval hang-ups - the GOP's stock-in-trade, as you know.

The electorate is definitely moving towards a more results-oriented decision process - which is almost always a plus for Democrats.

[Loki Liesmith]

8. We need a filibuster proof majority for that

Can’t do this via budget reconciliation

[ymetca]

19. And therein lies the rub

Filibuster proof means 60 votes. Think we'll gain 10 seats in the Senate in the mid-terms?

Why do I feel like I've seen this movie before?

Hmm.. maybe we should be pushing for DC and Puerto Rico Statehood, eh?

[still_one]

73. Thank-you Loki. Some people don't understand process required

[NurseJackie]

25. Joe Biden can count. So can the rest of our Democratic leadership.

What the hell is wrong with Democrats?

Good grief! NOTHING is wrong with Democrats. Joe Biden can count. So can the rest of our Democratic leadership.

[Mr.Bill]

31. Problem is

it looks like on a lot of things, we can only count to 48.

[NurseJackie]

35. Yes, we need a bigger majority.

I'm certainly grateful that we HAVE a majority in the first place.

[still_one]

74. Exactly Jackie

[Demsrule86]

87. I believe we could get to 50 and get the minimum wage if it could be done in reconciliation but

it can't and can't get to 60.

[Mr.Bill]

89. Manchin is a problem here.

He has said it should only be $11.

[beastie boy]

43. My apologies for the rant, but I get pissed every time Democrats get blamed for something the entire

Senate is responsible for. Don't Democrats even deserve an acknowledgement for introducing the minimum wage provision and doing their damnest to pass it in a 50/50 Senate? Don't Republicans deserve the tiniest amount of blame for derailing it?

[ymetca]

52. Yes, but

while Democrats keep playing Don Quixote, Republicans are burning the whole windmill down.

[beastie boy]

64. There is a huge mill the Dems have succesfully taken on and won: COVID funding.

And Republicans lost. This alone was worth the fight, no?

[ymetca]

69. Oh absolutely!

I cannot disagree.

But it's not enough. It can't be!

[Demsrule86]

88. But me no buts...attack Republicans then...not Democrats. Democrats want it...get out and

help win more seats...you want Biden to act as Roosevelt which I believe he wants to ...send him some congressional help. But for God sakes stop blaming Democrats because that is what got us Trump...,a wrecked economy and nearly 500,000 dead.

[quakerboy]

95. What people deserve and what the general populace will actually see

Are not the same.

the ideal fair situation bears little resemblance to the reality on the ground. Do we want to win more seats in 22, or do we want to lose seats?

[Escurumbele]

44. We don't really have the Senate...we only have the Senate if Joe Manchin votes with Dems

And he seems to vote a lot with republicans because, I understand but not accept, he is in a red district, so I guess he has to go against his principles and beliefs to stay in power.

So, if Manchin votes with Republicans then we don't have Senate, we loose 51-49, which is what happened a couple of days ago.

Republicans vote republican 99.99% of the time, they are Lemmings, they do as their leader says, but Manchin does what he thinks is good for him. I don't mean to offend any Manchin supporters, but that is what I see.

[Jedi Guy]

53. "They are Lemmings, they do as their leader says." I find this statement amusing.

Whenever Joe Manchin is being discussed, it seems like a lot of people bemoan the fact that he doesn't vote in lockstep with the Democrats, but Republicans are frequently criticized for voting in lockstep with their party. Why is it bad that Republicans do it, but also bad that Manchin doesn't do it? You can't reasonably criticize someone for doing X, then turn around and criticize someone else for not doing X.

Seems like there's some cognitive dissonance at play here.

[ymetca]

78. Color me not amused...

that something supposedly in the Democratic Party platform is subordinate to Joe Manchin's desire to keep his seat. Or Sinema's, or Feinstein's, or whomever.

Seems more like bad faith acting than cognitive dissonance to me.

This is the definition of the pejorative "spineless Democrats".

It might be amusing to some, but to so many of us out here in flyover country, it's survival. It's trying not to wind up living on the streets.

[Jedi Guy]

82. Brilliant illustration of my point, thanks. N/T

[FBaggins]

57. No... we don't

Not if "we" is defined as "people who agree that the federal minimum wage should be more than double what it is now"

That group does not control the Senate (or, quite likely, the House)

However - a move to something like $10 over three or four years might very well happen.

[McKim]

62. What!!!!!! Go big or Go Home!!!!

What on earth, are these people Democrats???!!!!!! Do this NOW! What is the problem? Go big or go home!!!!

[ymetca]

67. Amen!

I've heard the "let's slowly phase it in" mantra for decades now, all to appease those who financed a mob to kill us.

Seriously, it's not a knife fight anymore.

[intheflow]

71. "Slowly phasing in" strategy has screwed us in everything from

racism to environmental protection to minimum wage. Time is running out to slowly phase anything in.

[Demsrule86]

85. I can see that you don't understand how the Senate works...we need 60 votes...the reason

we can't get minimum wage is it can't be done in reconciliation. Stop blaming the Democratic Party.

[LakeArenal]

2. Maybe not this bill but not raising that wage is unconscionable.

[LakeArenal]

11. Exactly even two earners at $15 will have a hard time supporting a family.

Should be raising it to$20.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. As I understand it, in order to pass a bill by reconciliation

and avoid a filibuster, it has to be a budget bill. Since the minimum wage provision isn't a budget item (since it doesn't require spending federal funds), it could be excluded by the parliamentarian, which is why Biden doesn't think it will pass although he favors it. Somebody correct me if this is wrong, but that's my understanding. If so, it's not a matter of Dems or Biden being "weak," as that canard is so often thrown out, but of the way the process works.

[ymetca]

6. I believe you are correct

But don't make promises you cannot keep!

And, once again, it's Manchin... sigh

[Loki Liesmith]

12. With all due respect, you are very wrong.

It’s not Manchin.

It’s the rules for reconciliation themselves.

[ymetca]

14. Well sure, in reconciliation

But when (if?) a separate bill is introduced, Manchin already looks very soft on increasing it, especially, like NOW.

[Fiendish Thingy]

33. It *is* Manchin (and Sinema and Feinstein)- if they would kill filibuster, min wage would pass. Nt

[Mr.Bill]

32. A raise in the minimum wage

will generate more tax revenue. Shouldn't that count?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

54. No, because budget bills have to relate to federal expenditures.

So even though an increased minimum wage would generate more tax revenue, they have to be able to show it in the debit column too. At least that's how I understand it.

[Mr.Bill]

56. So maybe figure out how much tax revenue it will generate then

put something in the bill that will be funded by it. How about that? Not trying to be obtuse, just thinking out loud.

[Loki Liesmith]

7. It's a reconciliation rule

You can’t pass a statute like this via reconciliation

[WHITT]

41. Sure You Can

Under the BUDGET provision of reconciliation, the legislation must REDUCE the budget deficit, but when the Repubs passed massive tax cuts for the Rich & Corporate, the Parliamentarian pointed out it would increase the budget deficit. They were ignored and overruled by the VP, presiding over the Senate.

If the Parliamentarian rules the increase in the Federal Minimum Wage is not relative under reconciliation, VP Harris can just overrule.

All they need to do is what the Repubs have done numerous times previously.

[ymetca]

48. Which is why

in other parts of the Internet, the "real" radical left (you know, Marxists and such) continues trashing Democrats as the "blue team" for the plutocrats, with the Republicans as the "red team". Both players in a cynical game that threatens the very foundations of our Democracy.

The red team gins up the hatred for government, while the blue team continues to prove the point.

It's the death spiral we're all tearing our hair out about.

[Hoyt]

9. No reason it can't be introduced as separate legislation. I'm not keen

on trying to pass a bunch of legislation in one Bill. Too often, it holds up the main legislation which is stimulus, unemployment, vaccine funding.

[ymetca]

13. Right

The article implied that's what Democrats are going to do - a separate bill.

Then we get to watch as a handful of blue dogs tsk tsk about it, suggesting phasing it in slowly, over ten years, with all sorts of exemptions, yada yada yada.

Meanwhile, a steady drumbeat of opinion pieces in major news outlets will continue persuading us that it's just not a good idea.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

[turbinetree]

18. Exactly....................

[R B Garr]

91. Exactly. It's phased in over years anyway, and people need

relief now.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

16. The QRepugs start chipping away at Biden's first signature legislation.

It doesn't matter how many people are hurt -- or killed -- by their machinations, as long as they regain and maintain power. It's a zero-sum game to them. It's not only important that they win, it's essential that you lose.

[ymetca]

17. Exactly!

Last time I looked, they were insinuating eliminating the minimum wage entirely.

Drown us all in a bathtub, should be their motto!

[jorgevlorgan]

20. It likely never was going to because of the rules.

But Democrats can keep pushing it and putting republicans on record against it enough times to get the seats we need to win the midterms.

Unless we can just get rid of the fillibuster somehow. Honestly there is really no reason not to at this point. Well, I can name at least two I guess: Manchin and Sinema.

[ymetca]

21. Ding! We have a winner!

But I'm not holding my breath for Schumer to deep-six the filibuster.

Someone needs to convince me...

[jorgevlorgan]

22. I think schumer is probably on board with it, but won't try until he gets the 50

Votes needed, which is gonna take a lot

[ymetca]

24. Yeah, you're probably right

His heart's in the right place anyway.

[eggplant]

92. New York already has a $15 minimum wage.

https://www.ny.gov/new-york-states-minimum-wage/new-york-states-minimum-wage

I don't think Schumer needs convincing.

[groundloop]

23. THIS Let people know it's the GOPers who don't want to pay them a fair wage

[Crowman2009]

26. Some folks here get in a tizzy when you mention that Joe Manchin should be primaried out of office.

With Democrats like him, who needs GOPers!

[TwilightZone]

27. Primarying him out of office would be ridiculously stupid.

He's probably the only Democrat in the country that could hold a statewide office in a state Trump won by 40%.

Our options are:

1) Manchin, who votes with Dems 50-70% of the time.
2) A very conservative Republican who would vote with Dems 0% of the time.

So, you're in favor of #2, eh?

If Manchin had been primaried, we wouldn't hold the Senate.

The last progressive to run in WV for Senate lost 70-27. In 2020.

[Fiendish Thingy]

34. Manchin can single-handedly sabotage both Biden's agenda and Dems majority in House. Nt

[bearsfootball516]

37. He's also going to be a key vote in passing a huge COVID relief bill.

Which would be nothing more than a dream if a Republican was holding his seat.

[Fiendish Thingy]

49. And it will be an historic tragedy if COVID relief is the only achievement of the Biden years

Due to Manchin’s obstruction.

[bearsfootball516]

50. He's been in office for two weeks.

I think it’s a little early to be worried that COVID relief will be his only achievement.

[Fiendish Thingy]

66. The fact remains that Manchin can obstruct much of Biden's agenda. Nt

[ymetca]

36. While I agree

that makes the only other option putting pressure on (Manchin or whomever) to pass a bill on simple majority. The argument would be that such vote would NOT make them vulnerable in their home districts, contrary to their (and our) fears.

This is a critical test for the Party.

Just sayin'

[George II]

38. We've seen attempts to primary incumbent Democrats in purple or even red states/districts before....

It never works, and all it does is weaken the incumbents to the point that some of them lose.

Who would be a viable opponent for Manchin in a West Virginia Democratic primary? Doubt any exist.

[marble falls]

28. Get everything you can, Joe. This is a long term fight. We'll do better when we get "minimum ...

... wage" out of the language, replaced by "living wage".

[Sloumeau]

29. The problem is that an increase of the minimum wage cannot be done through reconciliation.

Reconciliation is supposed to be for budgetary items. Sending a $1400.00 check to someone can be part of the U.S. budget. Raising the minimum wage is not technically a budgetary item. To get an increase in the minimum wage done, we'd need to set aside the filibuster, which would require people like Manchin to agree to it, which at this time, he does not.

[George II]

39. He's being realistic and sensible.

[bearsfootball516]

40. A lot of people on DU don't seem to realize that politics isn't an all or nothing thing.

There are people’s lives at stake. I would love a $15 minimum wage. I actually think it should be higher. But guess what? We have 50 senators, and we need every single one of their votes to pass this relief bill. And if Joe Manchin says he will not vote for it if it’s got a $15 minimum wage, well, there’s not much we can do. The fact he’s publicly said he’ll vote for Biden’s 19T plan itself is a massive, massive win.

[Evergreen Emerald]

46. Unless it is a Republican

The way I see it, the Republicans pushed everything they wanted through the Senate. Despite the Democratic opposition.

[bearsfootball516]

51. Except, they didn't.

Remember the Obamacare repeal vote in 2017, when John McCain basically saved the ACA by rejecting McConnell to his face? That’s just one example.

Republicans often have just as much trouble passing but things when they have a very slim majority in the Senate.

[ymetca]

55. So...

it's continued Democratic "incrementalism" vs. Republican "all or nothing", burn it all down-ism. All because Joe Manchin, el al, says it has to be that way...

That's kind of the problem, isn't it?

[bearsfootball516]

60. I would love an immediate jump to $15, or more, minimum wage.

But right now, we have 49 votes for it at most, possibly less.

What’s your solution? Mine is to win more Senate seats so that senators like Manchin aren’t in charge of the deciding vote.

You could try to pressure him with public support, but he doesn’t care, if he did, he wouldn’t be so emphatically against raising it to begin with.

Primary him? It’s West Virginia. Even if you beat Manchin in the primary, you’d get slaughtered in the general. Manchin has survived in West Virginia BECAUAE he toes the party line.

[ymetca]

63. As a previous poster put it

"convince him".

The only option, from what I am reading here, is to put Manchin on the hot seat, then have him try to explain to his constituents why he voted against it. Sure, his rich donors will be happy, and maybe he keeps his job. Good for him. It's really not about him anyway.

An immediate $15 an hour minimum wage hike is HUGELY popular with MOST voters. It really is that simple.

[Calculating]

77. Is it hugely popular though?

In effect it hurts the buying power of anyone currently in the >$25 range through inflation. $15 minimum wage=Food and goods cost more=Lower buying power for anyone who was already making $15 or above. The only people who actually benefit are those who make under $15. The only way this works is if employers actually do the right thing and respond to a higher minimum wage by upping the wages of those who were previously making $15 or above, and I have very little faith in them doing that.

[Nocturnowl]

42. On the Other Hand,

maximum wages can go as high as the 1% likes!

[Mr. Evil]

45. This is saddening and sickening.

Democrats, once again, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Gotta protect and lie down for the billionaires. I know it isn't Joe's fault but, this is a cause he should put the gloves on and fight for.

[flibbitygiblets]

47. I assume even T----p supporters and the Qanuts want $15 minimum wage? Why can't our side

start appealing to them directly? Same with the damn stimulus money. I know typical dumb repub voters vote against their own best interest, but holy fuck, who doesn't want money in their pockets right now?

[idahoblue]

58. Minimum wage

Increase will not happen immediately anyway, it is over a few years. It is the one thing Dems can bargain with on this bill. They need to immediately write a new minimum wage bill to be voted on ASAP, maybe even accelerate the timeline so it will get into pockets sooner.

[ymetca]

59. More incrementalism

for a problem that hasn't been addressed in years and is LONG overdue.

So, rich people get immediate tax breaks, and the hoi polloi gets crumbs, someday, maybe.

Oh boy, now that's a winning strategy!

[jalan48]

68. 1% says no more ponies!

[mudstump]

72. This is BS...get rid of the filibuster!

[still_one]

75. and how do you propose that when Manchin and Sinema say they oppose getting rid of it?

Make Washington DC a state and we might have a chance, provided all the current Democratic Senators are on board with that

[ymetca]

76. Right, so

we're down to:

We can't get rid of the filibuster because of Democrat(s).

Ergo, we need to make DC and Puerto Rico States, so we can (hopefully) add 4 new Democratic Senators, and enough Congress folk to ensure Democratic control of both Houses.

Then, maybe, we'll have a chance at getting the minimum wage raised, but probably only incrementally at that.

Yeah, I'll be ashes in an urn before this happens.

Great system we got, eh?

At this rate, pretty soon only corporations will considered legally "persons", while We the People continue down our inexorable path of being further degraded as "human resources". You know, just raw material to be mined, exploited, used up.. like coal or bauxite.

No wonder folks believe all that Qanon/Alex Jones crap. Desperation makes people crazy.

[Polybius]

86. This has nothing do do with the filibuster

The $15 minimum wage needs just 50 votes if attached to the Covid bill. Probably is that we don't have 50 votes to support increasing it. Manchin is opposed to it.

[cstanleytech]

80. Better route to get companies to pay people a livable wage might actually be via the tax system.

By that I mean they raise corporate tax rate for companies that earn more than say 50 million a year to 40% to 90% and then make it so the companies can earn progressively lower taxes in certain ways.
First its based on the total number of employees they employee worldwide (franchise workers as well as temp and contract workers count towards the total) and then followed by the total they have inside the US and 2nd its the total inside the US that earn more than 500% above the federal poverty level.
The higher % they have of those inside the US and earning that much money the lower the corporate taxes they pay and the lowest it can get to is 10% but that low is only if their corporate headquarters is inside the US as well.

[Nitram]

81. The minimum wage will just have to be raised later. The present bill is too important to delay it

for that.

[Demsrule86]

83. Run on the GOP blocking it...which is what is happening.

[Demsrule86]

84. I would say that Democrats want a minimum wage increase.

[alphafemale]

90. The minimum wage will increase significantly, and soon, just not doubled immediately

I think it will go to $11-12 by the end of the year and to $15 by 2025.

Nearly everybody knows $7.25 is very ridiculous and this will be something that can pass both houses with bipartisan approval.

Most entry level jobs, (supermarket/fast food) that I have seen already need to offer $10 to get any applicants at all. So a moderate bump like that can be done right away.

The biggest and wisest thing right now is to put that $1400 into peoples hands right now and to extend the unemployment benefits and to get that money out there for vaccinations.

One of the things with that large of an increase, that soon, is hat people currently making around $15 an hour would expect a comparable bump in their pay. And reasonably so.

[Turin_C3PO]

93. People making $15 now

would see a bump. There might be a period of a year or two where their wage stays the same but it will go up after that initial shock. That’s what’s happened historically.

[Justice]

94. Why not get some kind of increase to minimum wage?

I get we want $15 but why not get $11 for now? Isn’t that progress over $7?