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Biden says the $15 minimum wage hike likely won't be part of the COVID-19 relief package

Kelsey More Business Insider
Fri., February 5, 2021, 

President Joe Biden. Susan Walsh/AP

President Joe Biden says a $15 minimum wage hike is not likely to be in the COVID-19 relief bill.

Biden said he would be open to negotiating an incremental wage increase separately.

"Look, no one should work 40 hours a week and live below the poverty wage," Biden said.

President Joe Biden said he does not believe a measure to raise the minimum wage to $15 will ultimately be included in the COVID-19 stimulus package.

During a CBS interview clip released on Friday, Biden said although he included the minimum wage raise in his $1.9 trillion relief bill, he does not think it will happen due to "the rules of the United States Senate."

"My guess is it will not be in there," the president said. "But I do think that we should have a minimum wage stand by itself, $15 an hour."

Biden said he would like a separate negotiation to take place on minimum wage, and to implement the hike incrementally. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25.

"Look, no one should work 40 hours a week and live below the poverty wage. And if you're making less than $15 an hour, you're living below the poverty wage," Biden said.

The president and congressional Democrats sought to gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 as part of the coronavirus stimulus bill. However, congressional Republicans, and some Democrats, have fought against it.

As Senate Democrats position themselves to pass a relief package without any GOP support, an amendment passed in the chamber late Thursday calls into question whether the wage increase will be included in the bill.