Schumer insists Democrats unified after chaotic coronavirus debate

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N Y.) insisted that Democrats are united after a chaotic 24-hour stretch put a spotlight on the pitfalls of a 50-50 majority.

Schumer appeared jubilant as he took a victory lap after the Senate passed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill along party lines on Saturday. Democrats advanced the bill in a 50-49 vote, with all Republicans voting against it.

"I am so proud of my caucus. I love each one of them. They are just so great," Schumer said.

"You know what unites our caucus? Everyone knows, especially with 50 votes, we all have to put together," he added.

The coronavirus bill gave Democrats their first big legislative victory since taking over the majority in January. But it also underscored that in a 50-50 Senate, they have no room for error and need every vote in their caucus when deciding to go it alone on legislation opposed by the GOP.

The COVID-19 bill was held in limbo for hours on Friday after Democrats said they had a deal on jobless benefits — only for it quickly to become clear that their proposal did not have enough votes because Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), the caucus' most conservative member, was not on board.

Manchin told reporters on Saturday that he didn't see the details of the initial agreement until 10 a.m. on Friday, around the same time that Democrats said they had reached a deal.

“‘I said wait a minute.’ Something I had never heard about,” Manchin added.

Schumer then kept a vote on the minimum wage open for nearly 12 hours as Senate Democrats and President Biden scrambled behind the scenes to get Manchin on board. Democrats ended up agreeing to provide a $300 weekly unemployment payment through Sept. 6. The initial Democratic agreement went into early October.

Schumer, asked why they didn't have Manchin on board at the outset, downplayed the divisions.

"People have new differences all the time. But you know what's the ... (Read more)

Latest News