In a meeting with a group of mayors and governors earlier this month, Biden appeared to concede that a minimum wage hike to $15 is not likely to happen as a part of the current Covid-19 relief package.
In order to pass the relief package through reconciliation, which would mean at least 50 congressional votes, all democrats need to be on board. Due to the minimum wage provision, two are not: Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Sinema argues that a minimum wage provision is not appropriate as part of a Covid relief bill (she’s not wrong); and Manchin says that in his part of the country, a $15 minimum wage is simply not sustainable for small businesses. He’d like to see it closer to $11.
The House will vote on Covid relief, including the minimum wage provision, by the weekend, at which point it will be sent back to the Senate. Democrats hope to have passed a relief package by March 15th.
