The Blubber

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is advocating for an increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, having filed legislation on Tuesday aimed at raising the rate that has been in place for nearly twenty years.

"For many years, working Americans have experienced stagnant wages," Hawley stated in a communication to The Hill. "A significant factor contributing to this issue is the inability of the federal minimum wage to align with the economic realities that hardworking Americans encounter daily."

The proposed increase is set to take effect next year, coinciding with the rise in the minimum wage in Hawley’s home state to the same amount.

Many states, including Missouri, have established minimum hourly wage rates that exceed the federal rate of $7.25, with nearly a dozen states expected to have minimum wages at or above $15 per hour following this year's increases.

Five states—Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee—have not established their own minimum wage rates, while three states—Georgia, Oklahoma, and Wyoming—have state minimums that fall below $7.25 per hour. These eight states default to the federal minimum wage.

The legislation proposed by Hawley, which is co-sponsored by Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), would also implement automatic increases to keep pace with inflation over time, thereby avoiding future stagnation similar to what the nation has experienced since the last federal increase in 2009.

Historically, minimum wage increases have encountered resistance from certain business advocacy organizations.

"This proposal would more than double the minimum wage and result in the loss of over 800,000 jobs," stated Rebekah Paxton, research director at the Employment Policies Institute, in response to Hawley’s recent initiative. "A significant majority of economists concur that substantial increases in the minimum wage lead to job losses, restrict opportunities for workers, and cause businesses to close."

"Hawley’s proposal would replicate similar unsuccessful policies from California and impose them on a national scale," she further remarked.

It remains uncertain whether the GOP-controlled Senate and House will consider the bipartisan legislation or what the timeline may be as lawmakers work to negotiate President Trump’s priority legislation.