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

It’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 $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.

The push to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour did not effects on youth employment levels, adult employment levels, begin with Biden’s relief plan, and it won’t end with it either. and the number of jobs available. Additionally, seven out of ten

Progressive lawmakers have consistently advocated for an increase economists believed that small businesses with fewer than 50 in pay for low-wage workers, citing that anything under $15 is not employees would struggle to keep their business afloat. A majority a livable wage for any American, let alone one trying to support a of the economists polled in the survey self-identified as Democrats. family on a single income. With 65% of the population supporting The push to raise the minimum wage to $15 or more is not an increase in the minimum wage, many progressives are the only measure that stands at the top of the progressive agenda. wondering why this measure would be voted out of the final relief Recent years have seen an increase in discussion surrounding package, especially by Democratic senators. substantial reform to America’s healthcare, higher education, “ “The simple fact of the matter is that $15 as the minimum wage is just barely a living wage,” said Pete D’Alessandro, the Iowa director for Bernie Sanders’ THE SIMPLE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT $15 AS THE MINIMUM environmental, and social justice systems. Medicare For All, a Green New Deal, debt-free college, and police reform have made their way into the forefront of political dialogue, and support for the progressive movement has grown significantly among both candidates for office and the general public. Despite these policies still being considered controversial among many, more and more

WAGE IS JUST BARELY A 2016 presidential people are beginning to open up to them— particularly when LIVING WAGE campaign and 2018 Sanders announced his candidacy for president in early 2015 and

PETE D’ALESSANDRO, 2018 CANDIDATE FOR IA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3 candidate for Iowa’s brought with him a set of policy ideas that, until then, had rarely 3rd Congressional been given a second thought in the public eye.

District. “And to have people that are working 40 hours a week not “[The progressive movement] has always been there,” Pete be able to sustain even a basic dignity, in terms of their day-to-day, D’Alessandro said. “But there were things that kept it from is absolutely wrong … $15 is the low point, and there shouldn’t be taking off … I used to say this about being on the Bernie Sanders any negotiations lower than that.” campaign. He didn’t invent these ideals, they were there waiting

The next step for members of Congress who are in support for someone like him.” of the wage increase is an attempt to use reconciliation, a budget Biden signing the COVID-19 relief bill isn’t an end-all cure process that would let Democrats bypass the 60-vote legislative for the economic and social devastation that Americans have filibuster. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, faced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is clear to

I-Vt., will be responsible for drafting a resolution in the coming the majority of the population that there is still substantial work weeks that will cater to this idea. needed to be done to help offset the burden. What exact policies

“We need to include [the $15 minimum wage] with a bigger need to be implemented, however, will be under intense debate for package so that lawmakers have to vote up or down on the full the foreseeable future—and if there is one thing to be said about package, and we would do that if there is a vote on reconciliation,” progressives, it is that their consistency on the issues don’t seem to said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., an avid supporter of the $15 minimum wage. “We have the power to make it part of the reconciliation … but it’s going to require Republican votes, and I am going to lead the charge on that.” It has been over 11 years since the last time the federal minimum wage was raised, and many feel that another wage “ waver with time and circumstance. “So much of the country has not had economic dignity or a great economic future,” Khanna said. “And increase is long overdue. In 2012, the “Fight For $15” movement that means that the popularized the concept of a $15 minimum hourly rate for minimum we ought workers. Since then, seven states have passed legislation to phase to give people is good in a $15 minimum wage in certain cities, including New York, healthcare … it means

California, and Washington. This “magic number,” made popular that the minimum we should give people is good education … it by progressive Democrats and grassroots campaigns, has caused means at the very least people should be paid fairly for their work, controversy in both the political and economic realm. not being paid starvation wages. These are common sense ideas,

According to a 2015 survey conducted by the UNH Survey and I believe the pandemic has made us more empathetic, more

Center, nearly three-quarters of U.S.-based economists opposed aware of the suffering of our fellow Americans.” a federal wage of $15, citing that the measure will have negative SO MUCH OF THE COUNTRY HAS NOT HAD ECONOMIC DIGNITY OR A GREAT ECONOMIC FUTURE

REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA, DEMOCRAT FROM CALIFORNIA.