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THE DREAM OF FIFTEEN Studies have shown that both Democrats and Republicans are in favor of increasing the federal minimum wage. The question among members of Congress is, to what extent and how fast? WORDS BY FAITH BOURGEACQ | ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA O’BRIEN
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t’s been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic made its presence known in the U.S., and many Americans are still struggling to deal with the economic aftermath. Progressives have long pushed for a $15 federal minimum wage, and they believe the idea is more important now than it ever has been— but others have raised questions about the effect a wage increase would have on the country. Is $15 a fix-all policy, or will it hurt the economy? Supporters of the $15 minimum wage experienced a glimmer of hope in January when President Biden introduced a massive
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SPRING 2021
$1.9-trillion COVID-19 relief package into Congress. A key proposal in Biden’s initial plan included a federal minimum wage increase to $15 an hour. Their hope was short-lived, however. After widespread debate among the House and Senate as to which components of the bill should make the final cut, the $15 wage increase was struck down in a vote March 5, 2021. To add insult to injury for progressive senators, seven Senate Democrats and Independent Sen. Angus King voted against the measure.
