Dem Sen. Tells Biden He Won't Support COVID Relief If It Breaks Budget Rule

Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has said that he has informed President Joe Biden that he will not support the administration's USD1.9trn COVID-19 relief bill if its provisions are deemed to break Senate rules by the chamber's Parliamentarian - the advisor to the Senate on its standing rules and orders.

• The relief bill is being passed through the Senate as part of a 'budget reconciliation process', which seeks to fast track its progress by allowing votes to pass with a simple majority rather than the usual 60 required to end a filibuster. However, under a reconciliation process the bill is subject to the 'Byrd rule', which is designed to keep out any 'extraneous' provisions.
• As such, should the Senate Parliamentarian advise that any provisions break the Byrd rule it would require 60 senators to overturn it - something not likely with the current 50-50 split in the Senate.
• Talking to CNN, Manchin - well-known as the most conservative of Democratic senators - said "My only vote is to protect the Byrd Rule: Hell or high water. Everybody knows that. I'm fighting to defend the Byrd Rule. The President knows that."
• The major policy provision that could be under threat is the proposed federal minimum wage hike to USD15/hour. It is unclear at present whether its impact on future federal deficits would be in breach of the Byrd rule. The House Budget committee chair John Yarmuth (D-KY) has stated he is aware that the minimum wage hike could fall foul of the rule and will do everything to ensure the bill is Byrd-proof when sent to the Senate.