Hawley Joins Democrat In Push For $15 Federal Minimum Wage

In a surprising move that’s rattling many on the Right, Senator Josh Hawley has teamed up with Democrat Senator Peter Welch to introduce legislation that would more than double the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The bill, titled the Higher Wages for American Workers Act, proposes increasing the federal minimum wage from its current $7.25 where it’s stood since 2009 and would also create a tax credit for workers earning below that threshold.

“For decades, working Americans have seen their wages flatline,” Hawley told CBS News, claiming that the stagnant federal minimum wage is a driving force behind the current affordability crisis. “Every hard-working American deserves a living wage that helps put a roof over their head and food on the table $7.25 an hour doesn’t even come close.”

While the bill attempts to address real concerns about rising costs of living, it’s also generating fierce pushback from conservatives who understand the devastating consequences such a drastic increase could inflict on the American economy.

Key concerns being raised by critics:

• Studies from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office have estimated that raising the federal minimum wage to $15 could cost the U.S. economy upwards of 1.4 million jobs.

• California’s recent $20 minimum wage hike for fast food workers has already led to mass layoffs, reduced hours, and even business closures, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

• The Heritage Foundation and other conservative economic groups have long warned that such policies disproportionately hurt small businesses, who cannot absorb the higher labor costs like corporate giants.

Rebekah Paxton, research director at the Employment Policies Institute, warned that Hawley’s proposal mirrors failed progressive policies:

“This proposal would more than double the minimum wage and slash over 800,000 jobs. Hawley’s proposal would take similar failed policies like California’s and export them nationwide.”

At least one Senate Republican has already publicly voiced strong opposition. Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota told Fox Business “I don’t even know why we have a federal minimum wage to be honest. I think the market works really well. Manipulating markets with mandatory wages doesn’t make any sense.”

The move by Hawley highlights growing divisions inside the Republican Party, as some populist-leaning members attempt to shift away from free-market principles in favor of big-government solutions that closely resemble Democrat talking points.

Meanwhile, inflation under the Biden administration continues to crush American families. Grocery prices have risen over 21% since 2021, and shelter costs are up nearly 18%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Instead of addressing the root causes of inflation reckless spending, burdensome regulations, and open borders driving up housing demand Democrats and some misguided Republicans are reaching for heavy-handed wage mandates that threaten to make matters even worse.

This fight over the minimum wage is far from over, but one thing is clear: exporting California’s economic disasters to the rest of the country would be a catastrophic mistake.

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