So let me get this straight

[jorgevlorgan]

Moderate Dems are very concerned about people getting paid more by unemployment than their actual jobs(thus pushing for lower ui payments), but just voted against people getting paid more in their actual jobs.

[Laelth]

1. Yep. That's about the size of it. n/t

-Laelth

[dchill]

2. You have already gotten it straight.

[Autumn]

3. That is indeed correct. They care more for traditions and bipartisanship than poor people.

[NurseJackie]

21. Nonsense.

that amendment does not belong in the reconciliation bill. That's what they were voting on.

[Autumn]

32. Bullshit, you know damn good and well that the wage increase will never make it on a

stand alone bill and they will never have to vote on it. I fucking repeat... They care more for traditions and bipartisanship than poor people.

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

34. There's a lot of work ahead. That's what politics is about. Making deals, finding common ground...

There's a lot of work ahead. That's what politics is about. Making deals, finding common ground, and compromise.

you know damn good and well that the wage increase will never make it on a

That's true. But going against Senate rules and trying to sneak this in the "back door" would backfire. It would kill the bill, or it would delay implementing the bill while the WHOLE thing is held up in courts.

They care more for traditions and bipartisanship than poor people.

Nonsense. Absolutely ridiculous.

[Autumn]

37. As a stand alone it will never get past a filibuster. You can carry water for it Jackie I won't.

[NurseJackie]

38. Instead of shitting all over our Democrats, why not work to elect more?

It's time to accept the reality of the even-split that we currently have. Let's do what we can (within the Senate rules). Let's work to elect 5 more Democratic senators and make Manchin irrelevant.

Everyone knows what you want. You're just not going to get it. No need to act surprised or viciously disappointed when it doesn't happen. That's just how politics is. Find something else that's doable instead.

The MW isn't going to increase (federally) for at least another two years. What else would you like to do? Focus on that!

In the meantime, this shit-talking and bad-mouthing Democrats for "not caring" needs to stop. It only empowers the GOP.

[radius777]

42. These conservative Dems are the worst, and deserve pushback,

as we're in a pandemic and people need help. If Dems won't help people, who will? There's nobody more establishment than Biden - why can't they just trust that he knows what he's doing? It's not just about the minimum wage, they keep trying to nitpick and reduce everything that 'regular people' need (eligibilty thresholds for the stimulus check, unemployment assistance/duration). This is not about voters (most of whom want help) in their states, but about pleasing donors and big money interests.

[NurseJackie]

44. That's not "pushback" ... that's shitting on Democrats and it only helps the GOP.

Stop it.

Accept what's possible... and do that! Accept the reality that we just aren't going to get everything we want with our 50/50 split in the senate.

Work to increase our count in the senate by REPLACING GOP SENATORS... not by trying to kneecap moderate/conservative Democratic senators.

For better or worse, Manchin is ours. Be thankful for that. Count your blessings.

[radius777]

45. Nothing stopping us from doing both.

It's a false choice that it's either/or.

Politicians have to understand that they need to serve the people, not donors - and it's our job as voters and activists to put pressure on them to do the right thing... especially since it's what Biden (the president, who got 81m votes) wants.

[NurseJackie]

47. One helps. The other hurts.

Why would anyone choose to do anything that HURTS Democrats and HELPS the GOP. People need to stop shitting on our party and simply accept reality. We are 50/50 in the senate. That only gives us the gavel and control of committees. We do NOT have the numbers to ram through everything on our wishlist.

The sooner people accept that simple fact and focus on what's doable the happier (and more productive) we'll be. Work to replace GOP senators and add new Democrats!

especially since it's what Biden (the president, who got 81m votes) wants.

He's not a King. People forget how our government works.

[NewHendoLib]

4. I truly don't believe moderate Dems exist. They are mislabeled, methinks

[sop]

5. Agree.

[Autumn]

6. My mom called herself a moderate Dem. I always told her no, she was a moderate republican.

[underpants]

7. Abigail Spanberger

She’s typical moderate Dem both on policy and the fact that she represents a razor thin district and is widely considered a Blue Dog Dem.

[NurseJackie]

35. I'm a moderate Democrat.

[Kaleva]

8. It doesn't appear to be a big issue for us as only two states are going to $15 an hour

California being one and Florida(!) being the other. I may be wrong but I'm unaware of any blue, Dem controlled state making a push to raise the minimum wage in their respective state to $15.

[jorgevlorgan]

9. Politically, yes. Practically and existentially, no.

People are hurting at poverty wages, and will continue to hurt until we have a living wage. This was a complete dismissal of the pain of the working class and most people should be pissed.

[Kaleva]

10. Are Dems in your state pissed?

[jorgevlorgan]

13. I know a few yea.

Although no scientific poll has yet been conducted in the few minutes since this has happened.

[Kaleva]

15. And polls don't show how strongly the respondent feels on the issue.

That would be more effectively gauged by how much effort Dems in the state legislature and/or administration are putting forth on raising the minimum wage as they would be feeling the heat from their constituents.

[jorgevlorgan]

17. There's much effort

Considering every dem state with a trifecta has a min wage of at least 10, and most of those have it pretty close to 15(12,13, 14.75)

[Kaleva]

18. then 15 ought not to be a problem

[jorgevlorgan]

27. Only if blue states were the only ones that mattered.

Our national economy can be significantly buoyed if we raised the wage in desperately low wage states like AL and gave people substantial levels of disposable income that would resonate throughout the rest of the country.

[Kaleva]

31. And many Red state have low costs of living.

My SSDI and VA pension breaks down to $7.78 an hour which is more then adequate for me as I live in Upper Michigan where costs are generally low.

The All or Nothing approach will continue to screw over millions of low income workers who live in high cost areas. Areas that tend to be Blue.

[jorgevlorgan]

40. Low cost of living increases their level of disposable income that resonates throughout the rest of

the country if they were paid a wage on par with the rest of the country. It is not an excuse to have a lower standard than the rest of the country, and a higher wage will substantially increase the stagnant economies in those communities. Giving everybody the bare minimum only makes things worse. We need to increase the standard of living through a higher wage even if the cost of living is low -something that will have largely positive effects on the overall economy.

[Kaleva]

41. I easily get by on the equivalent of $7.78 an hour.

Heck if you want to increase my SSDI and VA pension so that it works out to $15 an hour, I'll be going on Caribbean cruises and trips to Los Vegas when they are allowed.

[marie999]

43. My Social Security plus VA disability comes to $31.66 an hour.

And my husband's comes to $34.43.

[jorgevlorgan]

46. ...thus giving more people work, stimulating the tourism economy

Something that will be badly needed post covid. Increasing SSDI and VA benefits is also a stated goal among most democrats. Raising -not lowering, the standard is how we get the worst affected people out of their situations.

[Arazi]

12. Illinois passed it. It was one of Pritzker's first accomplishments

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pritzker-signs-statewide-15-minimum-wage-into-law/

[Kaleva]

14. That's great!

it may be easier to get the states to raise it on their own rather then nationally considering the 50/50 split in the Senate and the small lead in the House.

[jorgevlorgan]

16. Most dem states have it pretty close to 15 if not 15

And prioritize fast food workers with 15 an hour in states like new York. The lowest min wage in a dem state so far is about 10, and I do know that there is constant push in most to keep bringing it up.

[Mr.Bill]

22. I think Washington and Oregon have done it.

like California, maybe not phased in all the way yet but soon. Some cities and counties are at 15 or even higher, too.

I really think it should be more of a local issue anyway, although I am not against some sort of Federal number just to keep some people from being taken advantage of. And 7.25 is way too low.

[Kaleva]

28. depending on some circumstances, a person could live ok where I live on less then $15

Heck, my SSDI and VA pension breaks down to $7.78 an hour and I want for nothing.

[myccrider]

48. How much do you pay for medical insurance? How much for child care?

How many minor children depend on you for food and clothing and education expenses? Is your home paid for and good repair? Is your car paid for and in good repair? How many miles a week do you drive to work? Do you have savings to tide you over in case of an emergency?

Your expenses may not be the same as someone else’s expenses. I think we should judge what the poverty level is by the average costs of living and raising a family.

[Bettie]

11. Yeah...apparently

all of the republicans and a small number of Democrats don't believe that people should be paid anywhere in the neighborhood of a living wage.

It is sad, but that's how it is.

[NurseJackie]

20. They voted that the amendment does not belong in the reconciliation bill...

It violates the rules of reconciliation, and everyone knows it.

I just don't understand why a stand-alone bill can't be introduced, lobbied for, and voted upon. Who knows, maybe those 8 Democrats (CAPITAL "D"!) would vote for it.

BTW, it was only seven Democrats and the Independent from Maine who voted against including it in the bill. And they didn't vote against the $15 minimum wage, that wasn't nature of the vote, they rightfully voted for the integrity of Senate rules.

[Bettie]

24. A stand alone bill will be fillbustered which means

it will NEVER come to the floor.

Very much like HR1 and pretty much anything that helps human beings.

You know this.

So, none of those people will ever be called upon to make that vote.

[NurseJackie]

33. Trying to break the rules and sneak it in the "back door" like this would...

... send the Covid Relief Bill down in flames. Or it would tie it up in the courts for MONTHS while the propriety of this "back door" gimmick was worked out.

You know this.

A stand alone bill will be fillbustered which means

... which means a lot of hard work and compromise is ahead. Making deals, finding common ground... it's all part of the process. It's politics. We BARELY have a "majority"... just barely (with VP Harris' vote) and people should be expecting us to be able to work miracles and ram-through everything on our collective wish-lists as if we had a supermajority.

a small number of Democrats don't believe that people should be paid anywhere in the neighborhood of a living wage.

This is an absurd accusation. You know this, too.

Making false statements like that only benefits the Republicans. I do not believe that's what you want to do, but that's what it does do. Please stop.

[jorgevlorgan]

23. The procedural issue is an excuse, in my opinion.

If folks like Maggie Hassan cannot take the time to explain themselves, then they have no business saying they are in favor of it imho.

[Bettie]

25. I tend to agree

they know that any other bill will be filibustered forever and they will never, ever be called upon to vote yes or no on it.

Reconciliation is the only way any bill moves forward.

[jorgevlorgan]

26. They can do better. They know they can do better.

They refuse to do better.

[NurseJackie]

39. Reconciliation dooms HR1 or sends it to the courts... delaying Covid relief for MONTHS!

Everyone knows it wasn't doable. Everyone knows that the Senate is barely evenly split. We only have control of the gavel, and committees. We can't ram-through everything our hearts desire.

Instead of everyone getting all pissy and hateful (and feigning surprise) when something everyone KNOWS IN ADVANCE will fail... wouldn't it be better to focus instead on the things that we CAN do?

Instead of bemoaning the fact that a MW bill will be filibustered... why not think progressively and look FORWARD to what we need to do for the next two years that will help to ELECT FIVE MORE DEMOCRATS to the Senate! Make Manchin irrelevant.

Once that's done (in just two years if we all work together) then the filibuster can be eliminated and a MW bill can be fast-tracked.

It's time to deal with reality, and the reality is that we simply don't have the votes. That's politics.

[NurseJackie]

19. That's a ridiculous interpretation. It's insulting.

[Bucky]

29. I'm not sure why we're calling that "moderate". It's categorically "regressive"

It's pro-poverty.

[NurseJackie]

36. "It's pro-poverty." --- ROFL! (No it's not.)

It's pro-poverty.

[Wounded Bear]

30. Weird, isn't it...