Sanders defuses late-night fight over $15 minimum wage

[RandySF]

Sanders defuses late-night fight over $15 minimum wage
© Greg Nash
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) defused a middle-of-the-night fight over increasing the federal minimum wage, effectively allowing Democrats to sidestep going on the record on the issue for now.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) during Thursday's vote-a-rama brought up her amendment that would throw the Senate's support behind not increasing the wage to $15 per hour during a global health pandemic.

"A $15 federal minimum wage would be devastating for our hardest hit small businesses at a time when they can least afford it," Ernst said.

She added that while all senators "support higher wages ... a $15 federal minimum wage would be counterproductive to this goal."

The amendment, like most during the Senate's hours-long vote-a-rama on the budget resolution, is non-binding. But a roll call vote would have forced Democrats to go on the record on increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour while they are still trying to figure out a policy that unifies their narrow majority.

Sanders, who has led the push to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour, quickly stood up to speak on the Senate floor, and in a twist, it wasn't to oppose Ernst's amendment, but to support it.

"It was never my intention to increase the minimum wage to $15 immediately and during the pandemic," Sanders said. "My legislation gradually increases the minimum wage to $15 an hour over a five-year period and that is what I believe we have got to do."




https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/537483-sanders-defuses-late-night-fight-over-15-minimum-wage

[AmyStrange]

1. I hate this "gradually increase" shit, but...

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it's better than NOT increasing it at all.

By the way, I love Bernie anyway!
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[RandySF]

2. I'm afraid it may have to come out of the COVID bill.

[AmyStrange]

3. Crap! I hope not, but...

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you're probably right.
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[Hortensis]

5. Or another way to look at it, Covid relief is used to catalyze its start

this winter instead of later.

But Senator Sanders as the voice of, "What must be, we just can't have everything we want right now." Must be...amusing to victims of 30 years of harassment and badmouthing as corrupt. Whatever. As long as the job gets done.

[betsuni]

6. "victims of 30 years of harassment and badmouthing as corrupt."

YES.

[Wanderlust988]

7. If it does, then count on a $11-12/hr minimum wage compromise

I don't see us getting $15/hr if it can't be done through reconciliation. Even then, Manchin doesn't support it.

We're gonna have to take the compromise. It sucks, but better than $7.25/hr. We'll have to live to fight another day in 2022.

[Still Sensible]

4. What Bernie said is both the right approach and

politically sound. Unfortunately, the argument that it would be devastating to already struggling small businesses right now is factual. I for one would like to make the first jump to about $11 and would be thrilled to get all the way to $15 in Bernie's five year timetable.

Three of the key political considerations of this Covid relief are one, the immediate support to unemployed and small businesses, two, the combination off this round of stimulus checks with the tax credits for families, and three, the dramatic acceleration of the vaccinations effort. Getting the vast majority of this $1.9T passed quickly will largely solidify public support for the administration and, at least for some time, stave off the GOP's sudden (but predictable) fiscal concern. Just my humble opinion.

[OhioTim]

8. Are We Talking About $15 For Only

federal workers? Don't states create their own minimum wages?

[obamanut2012]

9. The Federal minimum wage is the minimum wage

States can have higher minimum wages, and some do. No one can flout Federal law and have lower wages.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. The federal minimum wage applies to most workers.

State minimum wages are different.

I live in Santa Fe, NM, which has a Living Wage ordinance. On March 2, our living wage will be $12.32/hour.

Several years ago I applied for a job posted at a local company, and when they asked me what pay I expected I was taken aback, and suggested whatever was the then living wage. To my astonished pleasure, they paid me a bit more. Great company.

[JI7]

11. It's for all employees . Federal just means it's a national minimum

States and local cities can make it higher if they want but they can't make it lower .

[LittleGirl]

12. We must reframe this message!

15 bucks an hour X 2080 hours (52 weeks of 40 hours) = $31,200 a year!
That is not even a living wage in the poorest counties!

$50,000 bucks a year is right around 24 bucks an hour. (For those not wanting emergency checks sent to people that are “rich” making 50k).

We must start breaking down these numbers so that people have facts!
It’s Math!

Ernst: if small businesses can’t afford 31k (before taxes) for their full time employees then they need to rethink their business model.

[keithbvadu2]

13. Republicans in Congress should get $15 an hour.

Republicans in Congress should get $15 an hour. After all, they think that is a fantastic wage.

[betsuni]

14. "Sanders, who has led the push to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour"

How? The Fight for Fifteen did, became a national movement.