Sanders to push $15 minimum wage bill

[n2doc]

By Tim Devaney - 07/20/15 02:34 PM EDT
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is pushing new legislation to raise the minimum wage for all workers to $15 an hour.

The Democratic presidential candidate, who has made addressing income inequality a centerpiece of his campaign, will introduce the minimum wage bill Wednesday. Sanders has long called for a $15 minimum wage, but this is the first bill he is introducing to do so.

Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) will join Sanders at the press conference Wednesday, and are also expected to introduce identical legislation in the House.

It’s believed to be the highest minimum wage that has ever been proposed by legislation in Congress.

“The simple truth is that working people cannot survive on the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, or $8 an hour or $9 an hour,” Sanders said recently. "If people work 40 hours a week, they deserve not to live in dire poverty.”

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http://thehill.com/regulation/legislation/248517-bernie-sanders-to-push-15-minimum-wage-bill

[pipoman]

1. As usual my objection is that minimum wage should be made

To afford a standard of living, not a dollar amount. The vast difference in cost of living from So. Cal. To Kansas makes a 'one size fits all' minimum wage worthless.

[Scootaloo]

2. A federal minimum wage is a foundation to build on locally

[pipoman]

4. Then it is unnecessary to raise it at all.

If it isn't to assure people are making a decent wage it is completely unnecessary. Is $15 a "living wage" in NY? CA? $15 there is equivalent to $10 in Kansas. Why should Kansas employers be burdened 30% more than employers in California? This is why $15 will not pass any time soon...it would have a dramatic affect on business in non urban areas.

[jeff47]

6. Because $10 isn't enough in Kansas either.

You're still treating it like a cap - that CA and KS must have the same wage. It's not a cap.

Campaign for $15 everywhere, and $20 in NYC. Or whatever is appropriate for "expensive" places. The $20 in NYC would not be in the federal campaign, since the Feds don't set the rate that only applies to NYC.

[pipoman]

7. Nope...if $15 is everyone's dream minimum it must be fine in CA and NY

It will not pass in the foreseeable future because of this. There will be a raise..probably spread out over 5 years to a max of 9.50 or something. I think it is the $15 advocates who should be demanding this minimum based on cost of living in an area....this is why the minimum is always slave wages in CA, FL, NY, and most cities...just as the big minimum wage employers want it...

Oh, and $10 will provides as good or better standard of living in Kansas than $15 does in LA.

[jeff47]

8. Which again means you are treating it like a cap.

Maybe if you shove your fingers in your ears and shout "LALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!" you won't need to type as much.

Oh, and $10 will provides as good or better standard of living in Kansas than $15 does in LA.

Which is still too low. So $15 in Kansas, $20 in LA. Federal law covers Kansas, time to work on LA City/County for $20 in LA.

[pipoman]

9. $15 dollars in Kansas will have far, far more negative impact

On cost of living than $15 in California. Who gives a shit? People who are enjoying relatively low cost of living. The only people making minimum wage now are 16 year old kids in their first job, and people who are unable to improve their job skills.

What don't you understand about a minimum wage being useless, irrelevant, and unnecessary if it isn't tied to cost of living in an area.

Again, $15 will not pass. There are far too many states adverse to it. Why do we want to keep a system that cannot be applied fairly?

Your insistence in the semantics of "cap" vs. "Floor" is ridiculous. It is meant to force those who are not inclined to pay a fair wage, to pay a fair wage. It isn't a friendly guideline for well meaning employers. It is by definition a floor above which is everyone's pay.

[jeff47]

10. And yet again, you treat the national rate as a cap

Hey, what's the minimum wage in Seattle, WA right now? Is it the federal $7.25 minimum? No? Huh...how'd that happen?

The only people making minimum wage now are 16 year old kids in their first job, and people who are unable to improve their job skills.

So let them starve and get rid of the surplus population, Mr. Scrooge?

What don't you understand about a minimum wage being useless, irrelevant, and unnecessary if it isn't tied to cost of living in an area.

What don't you understand about the difference between floor and cap?
What don't you understand about local governments being able to pass their own laws?

Again, $15 will not pass. There are far too many states adverse to it.

Which is why it's the fight for $15, and not the comfortable stroll through the field of lilacs for $15.

Why do we want to keep a system that cannot be applied fairly?

Perhaps because I am aware local governments can pass laws?

Your insistence in the semantics of "cap" vs. "Floor" is ridiculous

No, it's actually a very critical part of the economics, which you are determined to ignore.

It is by definition a floor above which is everyone's pay.

Which is why you keep treating it as a cap, and insist that $15 nationwide requires $15 in both LA and Topeka.

Oh what, that makes no sense...

[pipoman]

11. what you are saying is minimum wage is unnecessary...

Hey, what's the minimum wage in Seattle, WA right now? Is it the federal $7.25 minimum? No? Huh...how'd that happen? 

Apparently a federal minimum is unnecessary then? What's the point? Is the minimum $15? Why not?

The rest is just more of the same...more talk about what isn't going to happen. Why are you so adverse to getting the $15 where it is needed by tying it to cost of living with $15 at the high end...or $20 or $100 for that matter it wouldn't matter then because the economic impact would be equal. As it is $15 is a pretty standard rate of pay in a lot of skilled clerical, and other skilled trades and provides a ok standard of living in Kansas....

[jeff47]

12. No. But you are doing an excellent job flailing about.

Apparently a federal minimum is unnecessary then?

So you still refuse to understand the concept of a floor then?

Why are you so adverse to getting the $15 where it is needed

Because it is needed as the floor everywhere. Even in "cheap" parts of the country.

or $20 or $100 for that matter it wouldn't matter then because the economic impact would be equal. As it is $15 is a pretty standard rate of pay in a lot of skilled clerical, and other skilled trades and provides a ok standard of living in Kansas

Hey look! Supply-side talking points!

[pipoman]

13. But the FLOOR isn't a floor...not flat...higher in some places than others

More burdensome in some places than others. It is a waste of time and political capital and it isn't going to happen...it will end up completely ineffectual in places like FL, NY, and CA....you know, the places that actually have extreme poverty....places that actually need $15...

[jeff47]

3. It's the floor, not the cap. (nt)

[pipoman]

5. See 4