Speed Reads
The Senate parliamentarian ruled on Thursday evening that Democrats cannot include a $15 per hour minimum wage in their $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.
Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough determined that the policy did not meet the standard for it to be included under budget reconciliation, which allows the Senate to pass certain budget-related bills with a simple majority.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats are "deeply disappointed in this decision. We are not going to give up the fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 to help millions of struggling American workers and their families." President Biden has said he will back a standalone bill to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.