Senate $trikes a deal on jobless

The Senate on Friday night resumed consideration of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill after Democrats struck a last-minute compromise with centrist Dem Sen. Joe Manchin over emergency jobless benefits.

Democrats, who narrowly control the Senate, had postponed plans to begin amendment votes early Friday afternoon after Manchin (D-W.Va.) sided with Republicans in demanding that the jobless benefits be trimmed.

The logjam was broken after nine hours, with a compromise that would provide $300 weekly benefits until Sept. 6, along with a tax break on the benefits.

A federal unemployment supplement approved in December — at $300 per week — expires this month.

The House-passed version of Biden’s bill had a more generous $400 weekly unemployment supplement through August.

The evening compromise clears the way for a marathon series of votes on the sweeping relief package, with voting predicted to extend well into Saturday.

But the Senate was first expected to hash out an agreement on another contentious issue — a gradual increase in the current $7.25 federal hourly minimum wage.

In addition to the $300 boost in weekly unemployment benefits, the Senate COVID-19 relief bill provides:

■ A benefit of $1,400 per person, including children, for individuals earning less than $75,000 a year or married couples earning less than $150,000 a year.

■ A total of $350 billion in aid for municipalities, states and the District of Columbia.

■ An extension of the current 15 percent increase in food-stamp benefits through September.

■ Some $20 billion in housing aid for state and local governments.

■ Nearly $130 billion for K-12 schools to help kids return to their classrooms.

■ $15 billion for small businesses, through the Emergency Injury Disaster Loan program.

■ $75 billion for vaccinations, testing and other pandemic medical supplies.

■ A $3,600 annual tax credit per child under age 6 and $3,000 per child up to age 17.