In President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus plan, Bernie Sanders proposed a $15 minimum wage on Friday. As a result of opposition from eight Democrats and many Republicans, Senate declared the bid unsuccessful.
The Senate boarded a voting session for the relief package. The proceedings were deferred as the Democrats discussed Bernie’s amendment. However, the vote count reflected that they can’t go ahead with Bernie’s plan. What shocked Bernie is the fact that eight Democrats merged with the Republicans & voted against his idea.
The eight Democrats were; Arizona’s Sens. Krysten Sinema, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, New Hampshire’s Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen, Montana’s Jon Tester, Delaware’s Tom Carper, Delaware’s Sen’s Chris Coons, and Maine’s Angus King (an independent).
Sanders did not heed the key Senate advisor’s prediction that the wage increase inclusion might be impossible in the bill due to the special budget reconciliation rules, which make the legislation. So it was only inevitable that the bid got rejected.
The Democrats will permit Biden’s stimulus proposal over those rules. The voting was between the formerly mentioned eight instead of the regular 60. Each provision in the legislation must have direct influence over the federal budget.
When the Senators rejected his bid, Bernie called it unfortunate and foolish. He said that a staffer who’s unelected in the Senate should not have the right to decide for 32 million American workers whether they should get a raise or not.
Sanders was passive over the decision as he expects more struggle over the national cause. Furthermore, he isn’t backing off and will work on the legislation until it succeeds. And until then, he will keep on voting.
Many progressives, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Ro Khanna, are with Sanders and have commended Biden to override the existing verdict. Although, The White House is hell-bent on doing no such thing.
Other Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) shortly deliberated another way to increase the wage that would enforce tax penalty on large organizations that pay less than $15 per hour. But, they took back the idea before voicing it.
According to reports, Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan will be authorized before March 14, when the enhanced federal unemployment benefits will end.
After the “vote-a-rama” on Friday, a particular legislative period where Senators are allowed to propose limitless amendments like Sanders’ to the bill, the Senate will vote on the final bill and direct it to the House, and then sent to Biden for signature.
