Senate Parliamentarian Rules Minimum Wage Increase Ineligible for Budget Reconciliation

Democrats cannot use budget reconciliation to pass a $15 minimum wage as part of their $1.9 trillion stimulus package, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled Thursday. Without budget reconciliation, efforts to raise the minimum wage to $15 would be unlikely to reach the 60-vote threshold required to overcome a Republican filibuster. While the move drew criticism from progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ilhan Omar, the White House reportedly does not plan to challenge the ruling. Despite this, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday evening that she would still try to pass the full stimulus package in the House, including the $15 minimum wage. Coverage from across the spectrum followed similar narratives and included brief analysis of various political figures’ responses to the ruling.