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BY JOHN BRESNAHAN, ANNA PALMER AND JAKE SHERMAN

THE TOP

We’ve got some new details on a private meeting yesterday between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and prominent Senate Democrats on the $15 minimum wage.

Schumer called the meeting Tuesday to see if he could breathe new life into the push to hike the minimum wage. Democrats hoped they could come to an agreement — or at least present a unified front after an embarrassing defeat earlier this month on the Senate floor. 

Spoiler alert: The meeting didn’t change anything, and it just served to highlight some of the rifts in the Democratic Caucus. 

The meeting was in S-219 in the Capitol. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) clashed over the amount by which Congress should increase the minimum wage, with Sanders arguing for $15 per hour, while Manchin remained set on $11. Neither budged at all, our sources told us, even arguing at one point over the cost of living in West Virginia.

There was discussion of a “regional minimum wage,” but that didn’t go anywhere. And there wasn’t agreement on how Democrats would go about passing a wage hike even if they found agreement on the substance. 

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) discussed her previous support for indexing minimum wage in Arizona. She suggested an immediate raise in the federal minimum to $11 per hour, which when indexed, would be worth roughly $15 by 2024. Sanders didn’t like this idea either.

They discussed the minimum wage for tipped employees, but there was opposition to eliminating it. Some Democrats have pushed for that.

Sanders suggested that they should put the minimum wage increase on a must-pass bill — a typical way to try to force a legislative issue on opponents. But there wasn’t agreement on what legislation that would be, although the annual defense policy bill was suggested. (Republicans would vehemently oppose that strategy.)

What’s clear is that Democrats aren’t yet close to 50 votes, much less 60 votes to overcome a GOP filibuster. 

Our friends Burgess Everett and Marianne Levine at Politico reported on this meeting as well.

For Schumer, there was some good news. He got everyone to sit down together for the first time since the March 5 vote, in which eight Democrats voted against the wage hike. That had left some bad feelings in the caucus. So that’s something, of course. But there was no clear sign of what the next step will be.

Here’s what we can say: Discussion over hiking the minimum wage hike will bleed into nearly every legislative debate going forward. For example: If Congress needs to fund the government, you can be sure that some Democrats will push for a minimum wage provision in the bill. 

→ BTW: Gene Sperling will speak to Senate Democrats at their lunch today. Sperling is in charge of the White House effort to implement the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that Congress just passed.

→ Happening tonight: Join Anna and Jake for a conversation on how women and women of color are rising on Capitol Hill. We’ll also discuss the challenges and issues that need to be addressed in order to increase diversity going forward. Sign up

SENATE INSIDERY

Expect fireworks at election hearing 

Today’s hearing in the Senate Rules Committee — yeah, we can’t believe we’re saying this either — is going to be something to watch. The future of the Senate may even ride on this.

The issue they’ll all be discussing is S. 1, the “For The People Act” — it’s a voting rights and election overhaul proposal. This 800-page bill has emerged as a huge flashpoint between the two parties. Many Democrats feel so strongly about this legislation that they’d get rid of the filibuster in order to pass it. Republicans feel just as strongly that enacting this would ensure the GOP becomes a minority party. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y. ) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will both be there — leaders rarely attend committee hearings. So will former Attorney General Eric Holder, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita (a former House member), and election law experts and representatives from government watchdog groups. 

The Democratic proposal would dramatically overhaul the nation’s election system. It would expand voter registration and make it easier to vote by mail or vote early. Independent redistricting commissions would take politicians out of the business of redrawing congressional districts. Super PACs would be forced to disclose big donors and new limits would be placed on their ability to coordinate with campaigns.

A public financing system would be created for House candidates who focus on “small dollar donations.” The Federal Election Commission would be shaken up. New ethics requirements would be imposed on the Supreme Court and Congress. Presidential and VP candidates would have to disclose their tax returns. 

It’s a big deal, in other words. Every Democrat backs it except, of course, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Who also opposes getting rid of the filibuster, if you haven’t heard.

The House passed its version on a party-line vote two weeks ago.

Schumer and senior Democrats say passing this bill is critical as Republicans in dozens of states are rushing to enact stricter voting requirements. Former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies claimed there was widespread voter fraud that cost him the White House in November, although no actual proof of that ever emerged. 

According to Schumer, “Senate Democrats made clear we are committed to standing up to the voter suppression efforts that are threatening the core tenets of our democracy, to ending dark money in politics, and to ensuring public officials work for those they represent and not the special interests.”

McConnell, however, accuses Democrats of recycling “failed legislation that would have Washington Democrats grab unprecedented power over how America conducts its elections and how American citizens can engage in political speech.”

The Kentucky Republican added on Tuesday: “I make no apologies for opposing this bill… This is all about a power grab.” 

So all this is at play today. We’ll be watching closely.

HEADS UP

Senate Republicans plan to continue hammering Dems on border today

One other thing to watch today: Expect some floor action from Senate Republicans on the border crisis. GOP leaders also have a press conference on this issue. With a large group of Republican senators heading down to the border region later this week — at least 17 senators at last count — the GOP leadership will continue hitting the White House and their Democratic counterparts on the topic. 

COMING ATTRACTION

Bipartisan China bills coming down the pike

The Endless Frontier Act — a $100 billion bipartisan bill by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) to overhaul the National Science Foundation and boost technology manufacturing — could be unveiled as soon as this week, or shortly after the Senate’s recess, according to multiple sources familiar with the effort. It’s part of a legislative package being pushed by Schumer to help the United States compete with China.

And Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) spoke to White House officials on Tuesday about their plan to boost U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, according to Cornyn. That proposal — also backed by Schumer — was included in the defense authorization bill last year, although none of the billions of dollars they want for the effort was approved.

Money is the big hurdle in passing this package. The Warner-Cornyn initiative could be funded through a refundable tax credit, although the Schumer-Young plan — and some other China-related measures — may call for a supplemental spending bill.

We’ll also have to see what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate GOP leaders do here. Will they sign off on a major China-related initiative that both sides agree needs to get done, or will it get stalled by partisan bickering? McConnell hasn’t committed to supporting this effort yet and wants to see what else Democrats try to add to the package.

MOMENTS

10 a.m.: President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris will get their daily briefing. 

10:30 a.m.: The White House Covid team will brief the press.

12:30 p.m.: Biden and Harris will have lunch. … Jen Psaki and CEA Chair Cecilia Rouse and Heather Boushey will brief the press. 

2 p.m.: Biden and Harris will meet with HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and immigration advisers.

4:15 p.m.: Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host an event with members of the U.S. women’s soccer team including Megan Rapinoe and Margaret Purce to mark Equal Pay Day.

CLIP FILE

NYT: “Boulder Shooting Survivors Describe ‘Listening to Him Kill Everyone You Know,’” by Jack Healy and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs in Boulder, Colo. 

“Netanyahu’s Party Leads but Faces Obstacles to Forming Government,” by Patrick Kinglsey and Isabel Kershner in Jerusalem

“E.U. Set to Curb Covid Vaccine Exports for 6 Weeks,” by Matina Stevis-Gridneff in Brussels

WaPo: “White House to add AAPI liaison after ultimatum from Sens. Duckworth, Hirono,” by Amy B. Wang, Seung Min Kim, Felicia Sonmez and Marianna Sotomayor: “The White House agreed late Tuesday to add a senior-level Asian American Pacific Islander liaison after two senators threatened to vote no on nominees because of what they said was a lack of sufficient AAPI representation in President Biden’s Cabinet.

“‘The President has made it clear that his Administration will reflect the diversity of the country. That has always been, and remains our goal,’ White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. ‘The White House will add a senior level Asian American Pacific Islander liaison, who will ensure the community’s voice is further represented and heard.’”

“North Korea fires short-range missiles in challenge to Biden administration,” by John Hudson and Ellen Nakashima

“Trump officials hindered at least nine key oversight probes, watchdogs said. Some may finally be released in coming months,” by Lisa Rein, Tom Hamburger, Michael Laris and John Hudson

“In Mexico, Biden team asks for more help stopping irregular migration,” by Mary Beth Sheriden and Gabriela Martinez: “The Biden administration is desperate for help from Mexico to contain what’s on track to be the biggest surge in irregular migration in 20 years. When President Donald Trump faced a similar scenario, in 2019, he threatened to slap tariffs on Mexican goods unless its government throttled the migrant traffic. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador promptly did so. … 

“Mexican Defense Secretary Luis Crescencio Sandoval announced Monday that 8,715 army and National Guard troops were deployed at the country’s northern and southern borders to detain unauthorized migrants. But while the number made headlines, it’s barely more than the average of 8,058 troops posted at the borders during 2020, according to Sam Storr, a consultant to the citizen security program at Ibero-American University who studies the Mexican military.

“In contrast, about 15,000 troops were dispatched to Mexico’s northern border alone after Trump’s 2019 ultimatum. A Mexican National Guard spokesman confirmed Tuesday there had been no significant recent increase in border deployments.”

WSJ: “Stocks Drop Amid Powell’s Testimony,” by Anna Hirtenstein and Amber Burton: “U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as investors digested testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen about the U.S. economy. …

“Both Mr. Powell and Ms. Yellen said they expect a strong economic rebound this year following the vaccine rollout, but emphasized that the U.S. recovery is far from complete. Mr. Powell also said he doesn’t expect the $1.9 trillion stimulus package will lead to an unwelcome increase in inflation, but he emphasized that the central bank has tools to deal with rising price pressures if necessary.”

AP: “Official: Colorado shooting suspect prone to rage, delusions,” by Patty nieberg, Thomas Peipert and Colleen Slevin in Boulder, Colo.

“Biden’s disciplined agenda rollout tested by the unexpected,” by Zeke Miller and Jonathan Lemire

Politico: “Steyer polls the Newsom recall — offering himself as an alternative,” by Chris Cadelago, Sam Stein and Carla Marinucci

EYES EMOJI

Here’s the headline for the New York Post’s editorial today: “The Post says: Get weapons of war off America’s streets.” Couple that with the above front page.

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