Biden Doesn't Expect $15 Minimum Wage to Be Included in Final Covid-Aid Bill [View all]

[JoeOtterbein]

Wal Street Journal

Democrats moving forward without Republican support for the package

By Andrew Duehren
Updated Feb. 5, 2021 6:37 pm ET

WASHINGTON—President Biden said he doesn’t expect the Senate to include the $15 minimum wage in the final $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief legislation, as Democrats plowed forward without Republican support for the package and race to complete it in the coming weeks.

(Article below will update)

In both the House and Senate Friday, Democrats passed a budget resolution that allows the party to skirt the 60-vote threshold for most legislation in the Senate, and instead pass the relief package in the 50-50 chamber with a simple majority.

Now, Democrats will turn to ironing out details of the package, including deciding who would be eligible for $1,400 direct payments and whether to raise the national minimum wage to $15 an hour. With federal unemployment programs set to expire in mid-March, Democrats are hoping to speed through the tricky legislative process called reconciliation.

Mr. Biden said Friday that he hoped for backing from some Republicans on the aid bill but was prepared to move forward without it. “There are some really fine people who want to get something done,” the president said Friday of Republicans. “But they’re just not willing to go as far as I think we have to go.”

snip

WTH? No $15? then no "small business" money! They will not need it since they will not pay workers need more to just survive. Why pay them anything? Give us the money, and let the free-market decide where it is spent!