Hawley Teams Up With Democrat On $15 Federal Minimum Wage Bill

Senator Josh Hawley joined with a Democrat colleague on Tuesday to introduce a bill that would raise the federal minimum wage to $15.

“For decades, working Americans have seen their wages flatline,” the Missouri Republican told CBS News. “One major culprit of this is the failure of the federal minimum wage to keep up with the economic reality facing hard-working Americans every day.”

Along with Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), Hawley introduced the Higher Wages for American Workers Act, which would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour, where it’s been since 2009. The bill would also provide a tax credit for workers making under minimum wage.

“We’re in the midst of a severe affordability crisis, with families in red and blue states alike struggling to afford necessities like housing and groceries,” Hawley said. “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.”

Hawley is the latest Republican lawmaker to challenge his party’s economic orthodoxy. But it’s unclear if Hawley’s colleagues will throw their support behind his effort. In 2021, every Republican Senator voted against a proposal to institute a $15 minimum wage. Conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation have historically opposed minimum wage hikes.

Opposition is already mounting against Hawley’s proposal.

“Sen. Hawley should know better,” said Rebekah Paxton, research director at the Employment Policies Institute. “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,” Paxton continued.

California recently raised the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 an hour — a policy that has caused restaurants to cut staff and reduce hours, according to The Wall Street Journal.

At least one Senate Republican has already come out against Hawley’s proposal.

“I don’t even know why we have a ‘federal minimum wage’ to be honest,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (ND) said in an interview with Fox Business today. “I think the market works really well,” he said, adding, “I just think manipulating markets with mandatory wages doesn’t make any sense.”