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10.32am GMT
One of the signature elements of Joe Biden’s Covid relief plans – the $15 an hour federal minimum wage – suffered a setback in the Senate overnight, as the New York Times notes:
By a voice vote, senators backed an amendment from Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, to “prohibit the increase of the federal minimum wage during a global pandemic.” It was a signal that the wage hike would be difficult to pass in an evenly split Senate, where at least one Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, was on record opposing it.
“A $15 federal minimum wage would be devastating for our hardest-hit small businesses at a time they can least afford it,” Ernst said on the Senate floor. “We should not have a one-size-fits-all policy set by Washington politicians.”
Good morning. We are still voting in the Senate. And @KamalaHarris has just arrived in the chamber to help us advance COVID relief.
10.12am GMT
President Biden is going to address efforts to get a coronavirus economic relief package passed today. Phil Mattingly at CNN reports on the progress – or lack of it – in trying to get a bipartisan approach agreed with the 10 Republican senators who met with Biden earlier this week. He writes:
While both sides praised the nearly two-hour meeting in the Oval Office this week, the deep divergence between Biden’s $1.9 trillion the $618 billion Republican proposal persists. Still the Republican group is using a detailed letter sent to the White House to push for talks to continue.
“We remain committed to working in a bipartisan fashion and hope that you will take into account our views as the legislative process moves forward,” the group, led by Maine Sen. Susan Collins, said in the letter sent Thursday to Biden, and obtained by CNN.
Continue reading…President will meet leaders and committee chairs ahead of monthly jobs report releaseBiden announces end to US support for Saudi-led offensive in YemenHouse votes to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from committeesPodcast: Trump’s second impeachment – will Senate convict him?Sign up to receive First Thing – our daily briefing by email 10.32am GMTOne of the signature elements of Joe Biden’s Covid relief plans – the $15 an hour federal minimum wage – suffered a setback in the Senate overnight, as the New York Times notes:By a voice vote, senators backed an amendment from Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, to “prohibit the increase of the federal minimum wage during a global pandemic.” It was a signal that the wage hike would be difficult to pass in an evenly split Senate, where at least one Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, was on record opposing it.“A $15 federal minimum wage would be devastating for our hardest-hit small businesses at a time they can least afford it,” Ernst said on the Senate floor. “We should not have a one-size-fits-all policy set by Washington politicians.”Good morning. We are still voting in the Senate. And @KamalaHarris has just arrived in the chamber to help us advance COVID relief. 10.12am GMTPresident Biden is going to address efforts to get a coronavirus economic relief package passed today. Phil Mattingly at CNN reports on the progress – or lack of it – in trying to get a bipartisan approach agreed with the 10 Republican senators who met with Biden earlier this week. He writes:While both sides praised the nearly two-hour meeting in the Oval Office this week, the deep divergence between Biden’s $1.9 trillion the $618 billion Republican proposal persists. Still the Republican group is using a detailed letter sent to the White House to push for talks to continue.“We remain committed to working in a bipartisan fashion and hope that you will take into account our views as the legislative process moves forward,” the group, led by Maine Sen. Susan Collins, said in the letter sent Thursday to Biden, and obtained by CNN. Continue reading…