WASHINGTON — The Senate early Friday handed a finances decision that kicks off the particular reconciliation course of Democrats are utilizing to move a brand new spherical of Covid aid.
The decision handed in a 51-50 party-line vote simply after 5:30 a.m. ET, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting one in every of her first two tie-breaking votes to assist Democrats approve the measure.
The passage of the decision got here after 15 hours of a “vote-a-rama” within the Senate, a prolonged and principally symbolic collection of modification votes on myriad points. Senators voted on about 40 amendments in the course of the course of, which permits any senator to supply an modification to the decision.
A number of the amendments adopted by the Senate embrace grants for eating places and bars affected by the pandemic and a provision to forestall tax will increase on small companies in the course of the disaster.
Republicans tried to ban a rise within the federal minimal wage within the measure, however a spokesman to Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stated that might not block the Democratic effort so as to add a minimal wage provision to the ultimate Covid aid invoice as a result of that measure would elevate wages over 5 years. It’s unclear whether or not Senate guidelines would permit the availability to be added, nevertheless. Republicans additionally tried to ban undocumented immigrants from receiving stimulus checks by way of an modification, however Democrats stripped that out of the ultimate decision.
As a result of the Senate amended the Home-passed finances decision, the model handed Friday morning will now return to the Home, the place lawmakers are anticipated to vote on it shortly.
It comes as President Joe Biden and Democratic leaders coalesce round an effort to move extra support even with out Republican assist, forging forward with a $1.9 trillion package deal, which incorporates $1,400 checks.
The vote-a-rama is only one procedural component that may permit Democrats to bypass the 60-vote threshold for a invoice. The finances decision is nonbinding, which means it does not carry the burden of regulation. The prolonged collection of votes have been on amendments that have been largely crafted to check lawmakers’ assist for quite a lot of points however do not have an effect on U.S. coverage or regulation.
Up to now, the method has been used as a chance for the minority occasion to drive the bulk to take powerful votes that can be utilized in opposition to them politically within the subsequent election.
“The modification course of right here right now will probably be bipartisan and will probably be open and will probably be vigorous,” Schumer stated Thursday in a flooring speech earlier than voting started. “Democrats and Republicans alike could have the chance to share their concepts, and we welcome that.”
Schumer vowed that Congress won’t “assume small within the face of massive issues.”
“We can’t repeat the errors of the previous,” he stated. “We can’t do too little. We can’t lock our nation into a protracted and sluggish restoration.”
Republicans supplied amendments to assist the Keystone pipeline and bar stimulus funds for immigrants within the U.S. illegally, which acquired some assist throughout the aisle, however Democrats finally stripped them from the ultimate laws. Republicans additionally supplied a measure to ban Covid-19 funds for colleges that do not reopen after its lecturers are vaccinated, which failed.
“We will put senators on the file,” stated Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “We’ll see what this decision seems like on the opposite facet — and what indicators Democrats ship to the American folks alongside the best way.”
Leigh Ann Caldwell contributed.
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