Dems Approve $15 Minimum Wage in Stimulus Package, Ignore Risking 1.4M Jobs
House Committee Democrats face backlash from Republicans
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Democrats on the House Committee on Education and Labor have approved a $15 federal minimum wage proposal in the coronavirus relief package.
Committee member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., wrote on Twitter:
"It's a wrap, $15 #MinimumWage passes the [Education and Labor] committee after more than 13 hours of debate."
It’s a wrap, $15 #MinimumWage passes the @EdLaborCmte committee after more than 13 hours of debate. https://t.co/7OOQL3Il6q
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 10, 2021
But according to a study released by the Congressional Budget Office, increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour would cut employment by 1.4 million while lifting 900,000 Americans out of poverty.
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Meanwhile, House Republicans voiced concern with the action:
"Once again, Democrats are ignoring vulnerable, hardworking Americans, choosing instead to favor left-wing special interests and those who support their radical agenda," ranking member Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said in a statement.
"Forcing children to miss out on a high-quality, in-person education while cherry-picking the schools that receive relief and championing a job-destroying $15 national minimum wage hike is hardly 'bold relief.'"
Foxx also criticized Democrats for voting down Republicans' "commonsense amendments," which included blocking funding for higher education institutions linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
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Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., wrote on Twitter:
"At 3 am, House Democrats voted against my amendment, which would have prohibited funds to higher education institutions who partner with the Chinese Communist Party."
🚨🚨At 3 am, House Democrats voted against my amendment which would have prohibited funds to higher education institutions who partner with the Chinese Communist Party 🚨🚨
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) February 10, 2021
👇 https://t.co/HfO11rglWK
On Friday, the House of Representatives passed an updated budget resolution sent over from the Senate, enabling them to push through Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package without GOP support.
The vote was 219-209 to adopt the framework for the budget, which the Senate-approved due to a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Last month, a Florida restaurateur said the Democrat's plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour would cripple the already-struggling hospitality industry.
Owner of Maria's Oyster Bars, John Horne, said his waitstaff already makes close to $30 per hour through a combination of wage and tip credits.
"I mean, obviously getting the money to people is helping us, but this minimum wage [hike] is absolutely going to destroy the hospitality industry in Florida and across the nation," Horne said.
"They are trying to paint with a broad brush the entire nation," he added.
They are trying to say what's good in Alexandria, Va. is good in Alexandria, Tenn. We can't do that."
