New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, said Tuesday he was fighting to include the plan to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour by 2025 in the Senate version of the comprehensive bill that Democrats are drafting to get Mr Bidens carry plans. Mr Schumer said he is working with the Senate official charged with interpreting the chamber rules to ensure that the plan can pass the muster under strict benchmarks for what can be included in a budget reconciliation measure. The Democrats are determined to move the stimulus package forward under a reconciliation bill that only needs to be passed by a simple majority and could therefore be passed without the support of Republicans if necessary.
However, it is unclear whether the wage increase complies with the restrictive rules and Mr Biden has said he does not expect any survival. Mr Schumer would not say whether the Democrats would take the extraordinary step of possibly overriding the Senate MP to insist on his admission.
His remarks came as he appeared with the newly appointed Democratic chairs of the committees tasked with reviewing the stimulus package, and just as the Senate was about to begin the second impeachment proceedings against former President Donald J. Trump.
“To the experts who said we cannot do both at the same time, we say that you are wrong,” said Mr Schumer. “We can and we are.” When asked by reporters on Tuesday afternoon whether he was following the trial, Mr. Biden said it was not.
Before the trial began, Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security Committee interviewed Mr. Biden’s candidate, who should head the White House Bureau of Administration and Budget, Neera Tanden, about previous Republican Twitter posts.
Senior Committee Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio read several of these in his opening round, including one in which Ms. Tanden referred to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, as “Moscow Mitch”. and another who said “Vampires have more hearts than Ted Cruz,” the Republican Senator from Texas.
Ms. Tanden apologized for these and other contributions. “I deeply regret and apologize for my language, some of my previous languages,” said Ms. Tanden. “I realize that this role is a bipartisan one, and I realize that I need to win the trust of the senators across the board.”
Kate Kelly contributed to the coverage.
