minimum-wage

Senate leaders spent Friday afternoon claiming victory on the spending and tax bills that passed before lawmakers left town, and said they are now looking to highlight differences between the two parties heading into the election year.  

Democrats and Republicans held back-to-back news conferences after the final votes of the year, each saying the Senate is functioning again, and they're the reason why.  

Updated 11:15 a.m. | Senate Democrats are preparing a new push to refinance student loans and cut the costs of college as the latest plank in their election-year agenda — and are talking compromise on a minimum wage hike.  

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday morning on MSNBC that a new bill will be introduced by Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts regarding student loan refinancing.  

Senate Republican leaders plan to filibuster President Barack Obama's proposal to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour when it comes up for an initial test vote Wednesday, and are pushing for a vote soon on the Keystone XL pipeline instead.  

“Cloture will not be invoked,” said Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas.  

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid launched a new assault on the Koch brothers, blaming them for House Republicans' not passing an extension of unemployment benefits, a minimum wage hike or other parts of the Democratic agenda.  

"Their billionaire sugar-daddies aren't interested in helping middle class Americans get a fair shot. Charles and David Koch aren't concerned with the long-term unemployed families, and so the Republicans that they sponsor in the House of Representatives are content to do nothing for the long-term unemployed," Reid said, renewing his barrage against the wealthy businessmen and donors to a variety of conservative causes. The Nevada Democrat spoke on Monday to open the Senate for a monthlong work period.  

Sen. Susan Collins is fighting an uphill battle to get Democrats and Republicans to back a minimum wage compromise.  

Democratic leaders so far are sticking to the $10.10-an-hour wage they're proposing, while many Republicans, including more moderate lawmakers, say they are likely to filibuster the bill.  

Republicans say they might block consideration of minimum wage and pay equity bills after Senate Democrats moved to block GOP amendments to the unemployment extension bill expected to pass later this week .  

Republicans are upset at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., for clamping down on amendments on the unemployment benefits extension. And they're concerned Democrats are going to do the same on the minimum wage and pay equity bills to come.  

The Senate debate on raising the federal minimum wage might slip until next week, in part because it's unclear how long it will take the chamber to finish work on an unemployment insurance extension .  

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Tom Harkin has championed raising the minimum wage up to $10.10 an hour, along with an increase in tip wages. The Iowa Democrat told reporters on a conference call Monday that floor timing wasn't clear.