This is significant. The House is on track to pass a $15 wage in the Covid bill. If it survives the Byrd rule then a federal minimum wage hike becomes likely. Senate Democrats aren’t all on board with $15/hour but they unanimously want to raise the current floor of $7.25/hour.
And in that case, which Democrat is going to want to stand up and wage a fight against $15, which according to polls has 2-to-1 public support and 80-85% support w/Dem voters?
For those citing Manchin and Sinema—this is where the process matters. If the parliamentarian rules a minimum wage is noncompliant, it’s probably over. Those two credibly say they won’t overrule her. But if it complies, their only leverage is to shoot down the entire Covid bill.
And they don’t get to determine what bill receives a vote — that’s up to Pelosi and Schumer, both of whom support a $15 wage in a Covid bill. So if the parl allows it (still a big IF) the question flips from “who’s going to support it?” to “who’s going to kill the bill over it?”
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
NEW: The Republican civil war ended today. Donald Trump won.
The party’s decision to acquit him on charges of inciting the 1/6 siege on the Capitol frees him to run for president again and cements his status as kingmaker for years to come.
The vote by 43 of 50 Republicans to acquit Trump shows the deep and enduring hesitation in the party to disown Trumpism, however they justify it. Senators know their voters care about how they vote, not the caveats they later add in a speech or statement.
The Senate is voting now on "whether or not it shall be in order to consider and debate under the impeachment rules any motion to subpoena witnesses and or documents."
Republicans voting YES on calling witnesses in this Trump trial: Collins, Murkowski, Romney, Sasse.
(Vote not final yet.)
! Lindsey Graham just changed his vote to YES on calling witnesses in the Trump trial.
President Biden put a $15 wage in his Covid bill but he's backing away by saying it'll likely die under Senate rules. Bernie Sanders isn't happy—he says the policy is eligible for reconciliation and that it's now or never.
Trump lawyer Bruce Castor praises the "outstanding presentation" from managers.
"You will not hear any member of the team representing former President Trump say anything but in the strongest possible way denounce the violence of the rioters and those that breached the Capitol."
Trump's lawyer Bruce Castor calls US senators "extraordinary people, in the technical sense." Then discusses Everett Dirksen and his "commanding, gravely voice that just oozes belief and sincerity."
Bruce Castor: "This trial is about trading liberty for the security from the mob? Honestly, no. It can't be. We can't be thinking about that."