WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats edged a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package to the brink of House passage early Saturday, even as party leaders sought to assure agitated progressives that they’d revive their derailed drive to boost the minimum wage.A virtual party-line House vote was expected on the sweeping measure, which embodies President Joe Biden's plan to flush cash to individuals, businesses, states and cities battered by COVID-19.
Passage would send the measure to the Senate, where Democrats may try resuscitating their minimum wage push and fights could erupt over state aid and other issues.Democrats said that the still-faltering economy and the half-million American lives lost demanded quick, decisive action and that GOP lawmakers.