US President Joe Biden 's proposal to double the minimum wage , bringing it to $ 15 from $ 7.25 from the $ 7.25 it had been on since 2009. The US Senate rejected the proposal, which the Democrats wanted to insert in the new $ 1950 billion anti-Covid aid package . The increase in the minimum wage was a promise made by Biden during the electoral campaign , which the Democrats wanted to implement by inserting it in the emergency package, through the so-called reconciliation process, justifying the related increase in the deficit with the reduction of the costs of social services.



But Republicans have put a stop to the law, arguing that the procedure is irregular and that raising the minimum wage will contribute to the loss of 1.4 million jobs.

The dems in the House still intend to go ahead with the bill in its original version, but the rejection of the Senate will require an alternative solution to be found for increasing the minimum wage. The proposal will most likely be advanced to Congress in a separate law.

President Biden said he was "deeply disappointed" by the Senate's decision and promised he would work with congressional leaders to find the best solution, "because no one in this country should work full time and live in poverty."