Florida lawmakers are advancing legislation that enables employers to pay certain trainees below minimum wage for up to 12 months. Concurrently, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has introduced a bipartisan bill with Vermont Senator Peter Welch to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, starting January 2026, and linking future increases to inflation. The current federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since 2009, and past attempts to raise it have failed, such as efforts during the COVID-19 relief package in 2021.
Hawley argues that stagnant wages are a significant issue for many American workers and emphasizes that the minimum wage needs to reflect economic realities. Welch reinforces this view, stating that the current wage is insufficient for basic living standards. However, the proposal has faced opposition. The Employment Policies Institute claims that increasing the minimum wage could lead to job losses, estimating that more than 800,000 jobs could be at risk. Economists generally warn that a drastic hike in minimum wage can limit employment opportunities and threaten business sustainability.
While the Senate considers Hawley and Welch’s bill, the potential impact on job loss remains a critical concern. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has pointed out that, while increasing the minimum wage could uplift many low-wage workers’ earnings, it could also result in job losses for others, complicating the overall benefits. In addition to his minimum wage bill, Hawley has teamed up with Senator Bernie Sanders on other initiatives, such as capping credit card interest rates, highlighting his focus on providing relief to working-class Americans.
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