Minimum wage hike imperiled in relief bill

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s proposed $15-anhour minimum wage increase cannot remain in his coronavirus relief bill in the Senate, the chamber’s parliamentarian said Thursday.

The guidance from the parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, was communicated privately to key Senate offices and confirmed by aides in both parties. It could be a major setback for liberals hoping to use Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief bill as the vehicle for their longsought goal of raising the federal minimum wage from its current level of $7.25 an hour.

Democrats had been anxiously awaiting MacDonough’s decision, but their next steps are not clear. Her ruling pertains only to the Senate, where the legislation will move forward under complex rules that prohibit certain items that don’t have a particular impact on the budget. MacDonough determined that the minimum wage increase did not pass that test — an outcome that had been predicted by a number of Democrats, including Biden himself.

The House is moving forward Friday to pass the legislation and send it to the Senate. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has committed to keeping the minimum wage increase in the bill. If she does, Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., will then face a decision on whether to take out the minimum wage increase, or try to keep it in the bill.

Schumer has not said what he will do. Liberals are pushing him and the Biden administration to try to overrule the parliamentarian’s decision, which Democrats could theoretically attempt to do on the Senate floor. But Democrats would not likely command the necessary votes to succeed anyway, since at least one Senate Democrat — Sen. Joe Manchin, W.Va. — has said he would not vote to overrule the parliamentarian.

The Senate is divided 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, so Democrats need unanimity in their ranks to pass Biden’s coronavirus relief legislation and overcome procedural hurdles like the minimum wage ruling. They are pushing the legislation forward over unified GOP opposition under a procedure called “budget reconciliation” that allows them to prevail with a simple majority, instead of the 60 votes normally required — but also limits what can be included in the package.

The House has advanced stand-alone minimum wage increase bills in the past, but it’s highly unlikely the Senate would agree to any such legislation.

Nevertheless Pelosi said Thursday that Democrats were committed to trying.

“We will pass a minimum wage bill. We must pass a minimum wage bill,” Pelosi said.