Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Minimum Wage Hike Nixed From Relief Bill By Senate Parliamentarian
Reuters: U.S. Senate Referee Says Democrats Cannot Include $15 Minimum Wage In COVID Bill
In a blow to Democrats, the Senate parliamentarian ruled the chamber cannot include President Joe Biden’s proposed $15-an-hour minimum wage in a $1.9 trillion coronavirus bill the party aims to pass without Republican votes, lawmakers said on Thursday. Democrats and progressives had hoped to include the minimum wage increase in the legislation to help cushion the economic blow of the coronavirus pandemic and better compensate low-wage workers who have spent months on the front lines of the health crisis as essential workers. (2/25)
Politico: Democrats Short Of A Backup Plan After Minimum Wage Ruling
Democrats' $15 minimum wage increase isn’t going to survive the Senate. And they don’t have a Plan B yet. The Senate parliamentarian’s decision to rule the wage hike out of order ahead of debate on President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief plan saves Democrats from an internal fight over whether to increase it to $15 an hour. But it also leaves Democrats without a clear path forward on fulfilling a key campaign promise. (Everett and Levine, 2/25)
The Hill: House Democrats To Keep Minimum Wage Hike In COVID-19 Relief Bill For Friday Vote
House Democrats will leave a provision to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in their version of the COVID-19 relief package set for a vote on Friday despite a ruling from the Senate parliamentarian that the measure does not comply with budgetary rules. (Marcos, 2/25)
NBC News: House To Vote On Biden's $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Bill With $1,400 Checks
The House will vote on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package Friday, just days after the U.S. crossed 500,000 deaths from the coronavirus. The Democratic-controlled House is expected to pass the sweeping bill, which includes $1,400 direct payments, a $400-a-week federal unemployment bonus, a per-child allowance of up to $3,600 for one year and billions of dollars to distribute the coronavirus vaccines and to assist schools and local governments. (Kapur, 2/26)
In related news about covid's economic toll —
The Hill: Judge Rules CDC Eviction Moratorium Unconstitutional
A federal judge in Texas ruled on Thursday that an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) temporarily halting evictions amid the pandemic is unconstitutional. In a 21-page ruling, U.S. District Judge John Barker sided with a group of landlords and property managers who alleged in a lawsuit that the CDC's eviction moratorium exceeded the federal government's constitutional authority. (Kruzel, 2/25)
The New York Times: F.C.C. Approves A $50 Monthly High-Speed Internet Subsidy
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved an emergency subsidy for low-income households to get high-speed internet, an effort to bridge the digital divide that has cut off many Americans from online communication during the pandemic. The four-member commission unanimously agreed to offer up to $50 a month to low-income households and up to $75 a month to households on Native American land for broadband service. The F.C.C. will also provide a one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible homes. (Kang, 2/25)
NBC News: Black Women Feel Outsize Burden From The Covid-19 Economy, Survey Finds
Her 7-year-old daughter has spent the past year at home, learning virtually. That meant Hargrove, a postal carrier in Pittsburgh, had to stop working during the week. She's now collecting partial unemployment and working on Saturdays and Sundays, while her mother watches her daughter. (Fox and Epperson, 2/26)
