Senate likely to pass virus bill on Friday or Saturday – Hoyer

The House vote on President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill will be held on Friday, the majority leader announced. Biden on Tuesday indicated the congressional vote on the legislation would be close, speaking after GOP Senator Susan Collins said she doesn’t expect a single Republican vote in favor of it. Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders said the Senate’s parliamentarian could rule as soon as Wednesday on whether a proposed minimum-wage hike can be included in the fast-track bill. While the package that the House is expected to vote on in coming days includes the president’s plan to phase in a $15-per-hour minimum wage, two moderate Democratic senators currently say they oppose that component of the legislation. Senate leaders meantime previewed what’s next. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he expects Biden’s second, longer-term economic package “very soon” after the pandemic-aid bill. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned that he believes Democrats will include tax hikes in that next bill, predicting the majority party would push for a corporate tax rate in excess of Biden’s 28% proposal.