Senate Democrats to sidestep GOP on COVID aid with rarely used budget rule

Senate Democrats, lacking the votes to end the filibuster unilaterally, plan to plow ahead with a “bold” agenda, including an increase in the minimum wage, through a budgetary rule that allows some legislation to pass with only 51 votes.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Tuesday he’ll move quickly to pass a budget resolution in the Senate, which paves the way for lawmakers to pass certain bills with 51 votes instead of 60.

A major COVID-19 aid spending bill and an increase in the minimum wage to $15 are among the bills that could become candidates for passage under budget reconciliation.

The tactic allows bills to pass the Senate if they affect federal revenue. While coronavirus spending falls under that category, a minimum wage increase would not necessarily conform to the rules governing reconciliation. But Democrats plan to find a way.