If you have been tempted to dismiss the growing progressive insurgency within the Democratic caucus as a mirage produced by a handful of outspoken voices – as Nancy Pelosi has suggested – well, think again.
In what appears to be one of the most deliberate examples yet of the Democrats progressive caucus sabotaging the party’s own agenda because it didn’t get exactly what it wanted, the Hill reports that some House Dems are prepared to scuttle a bill to raise the national minimum wage to $15 an hour if a procedural motion from the Republicans is added to the bill.
It’s meant to be a gesture to moderate Democrats who have sometimes voted with Republicans on procedural issues: The progressives are in no mood to compromise.
Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Mark Pocan, the co-chairs of the House Progressive Caucus, issued a statement accusing the Republicans of supporting a “disingenuous” motion that would amount to a “poison pill”.
“We have no doubt that Congressional Republicans will try to divide the Democratic Caucus with a disingenuous Motion to Recommit. It’s up to all of us to stand unified and reject their bad faith effort to undermine this bill,” Pocan and Jayapal said in a statement.
“After consulting with our Members this week, we are confident that any bill that includes a poison pill Republican Motion to Recommit will lack the votes to pass on the House Floor.”
According to the Huffington Post, a vote on the minimum wage is slated for Thursday. However, even if progressives don’t kill it, the bill will face an almost certain death in the Senate. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour, and it hasn’t been raised since 2009. It’s the effective minimum wage in 19 states.
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