A pair of progressive Democrats unveiled a bill on Tuesday that would raise the federal minimum wage to $25 per hour, considered the bare minimum a single adult needs to meet the cost of living in much of the US.

The Living Wage For All Act is the first bill to be introduced by the newly sworn-in Rep. Analilia Mejía (D-NJ), who won a special election earlier this month after helping to lead the fight for a $15 minimum wage in her home state of New Jersey.

  • pfried@reddthat.com
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    7 days ago

    The last time the Democrats had a majority was in the 117th Congress. They introduced a minimum wage increase bill HR 603 with 202 cosponsors, not a single one Republican. If the Democrats have a slim majority, all it takes is for a few Democrats whose districts rely on votes from small business owners who don’t want to pay higher minimum wage during a pandemic when their business is shut down to stop it. Those small business owners vote, and their employees listen to people like you. If you vote for enough Democrats that aren’t in that position, of course it will pass. The messaging to the employees should be that if their Democratic representative isn’t meeting demands, they should primary them, not that they should let Republicans win.

    • Flocklesscrow@lemmy.zip
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      7 days ago

      The Democrats ALWAYS have just enough defectors who will cross the aisle to stop any progressive legislation.

      Because they’re not a real Party; they’re Controlled Opposition.

      Every single Dinosaur Democrat needs to be ousted, starting with Schumer.

      • pfried@reddthat.com
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        7 days ago

        People voted for them. They serve their voters. That’s how democracy works. They are “controlled” by their voters. People who don’t understand that get governments who don’t listen to them and instead listen to people who do understand that, like the aforementioned small business owners.

        • Flocklesscrow@lemmy.zip
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          7 days ago

          You could fit a continent in the gap of your understanding.

          I’m going to assume you’re just laughably naive, as a best-case scenario.

          • pfried@reddthat.com
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            7 days ago

            I’m one of those people who talks to my representative to get my way. I also talk to people running in local elections and tell them exactly why I am or am not voting for them. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I know how government works.