GOP Sen. Josh Hawley introduces invoice to boost federal minimal wage to $15 per hour
WASHINGTON — Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., launched a invoice with Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., on Tuesday to boost the federal minimal wage to $15 per hour, making him a uncommon congressional Republican to endorse the traditionally liberal trigger.
The Increased Wages for American Employees Act would set the nationwide minimal wage to $15 on Jan. 1 of the primary 12 months after it’s enacted, and lift it yearly on the premise of inflation.
“It is a populist place,” Hawley advised NBC Information within the Capitol on Tuesday. “If we’re going to be a working individuals’s celebration, now we have to do one thing for working individuals. And dealing individuals haven’t gotten a increase in years. In order that they want a increase.”
The federal minimal wage is at present $7.25, and hasn’t been raised since 2009. Democratic presidents and lawmakers have since tried to elevate it, however every time didn’t clear the 60-vote threshold to interrupt a filibuster within the Senate.
“We’re within the midst of a extreme affordability disaster, with households in crimson and blue states alike struggling to afford requirements like housing and groceries. A stagnant federal minimal wage solely provides gasoline to the hearth. Each hardworking American deserves a dwelling wage that helps put a roof over their head and meals on the desk–$7.25 an hour doesn’t even come shut,” Welch mentioned in a press release. “Instances have modified, and dealing households deserve a wage that displays at this time’s monetary actuality.”
Hawley mentioned the present degree is “actually, actually, actually, actually low.”
“The reality is — individuals can’t afford to have a household. Households can’t help themselves. I imply, in the event you’re professional household, as I’m, if you’re a populist, in the event you’re pro-worker, you’ve obtained to do one thing for working individuals,” he mentioned, whereas noting that varied states, together with Missouri, have since stepped in to elevate it.
It represents the most recent try by Hawley to stake out financial populist floor that has lengthy been related to liberals. Different latest strikes embrace teaming up with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on a invoice to cap bank card rates of interest at 10%, and voting with Democrats this 12 months on a funds modification to ban tax cuts for the rich if Medicaid funding is minimize.
Nonetheless, Hawley admitted he’s an outlier in his celebration, and it’s removed from clear the wage laws will attain the Senate ground, not to mention discover the 60 votes wanted to advance within the chamber, the place the GOP controls 53 seats.
“I’d like to get a vote on it. I feel it’s exhausting to vote in opposition to,” he mentioned. “I say that, however in all probability most of my Republican colleagues vote in opposition to it fortunately.”
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., mentioned he opposes Hawley’s measure, expressing the longstanding GOP stance that minimal wage hikes distort markets and make it more durable for employers to rent.
“I wouldn’t help it,” Johnson mentioned. “As a result of the true minimal wage is $0 once you don’t have a job. The minimal wage impacts only a small sliver of individuals — most individuals that need entry-level jobs. And so that you increase the price of an entry-level job and also you don’t have them.”
Hawley has one other impediment: President Donald Trump, who has not endorsed any improve within the federal minimal wage. Trump dodged questions concerning the subject throughout his 2024 marketing campaign.
“I feel he understands the wants of working individuals rather well,” Hawley mentioned. “I might hope he would help this.”