July 25, 2024
This really is kind of mind-boggling. It had a nice piece pointing out that it has now been 15 years since the last hike in the federal minimum wage. This is the longest stretch since the federal minimum wage was first established in 1938. The real value of the minimum wage has been allowed to fall to its 1949 level. These points are well-taken as is its noting of research showing that higher minimum wages do not cost jobs.
But when it came to an explanation as to why the minimum wage has not been raised it told listeners:
“But the idea keeps going nowhere. Why? The short answer is congressional gridlock.”
Huh? Almost every Democrat in Congress has voted for higher minimum wages over this period. Almost every Republican has voted against minimum wage hikes. There is a pretty clear story here, the minimum wage has not been increased because Republicans oppose a higher minimum wage.
Is there some reason Marketplace Radio couldn’t be honest with its listeners? The Republicans can presumably defend their position, but why is the show hiding it? Democrats support a higher minimum wage, Republicans oppose one. When it comes to explaining why it hasn’t been raised for 15 years, it is that simple.
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