$15 minimum wage debate looms over President Joe Biden’s COVID stimulus plan
Updated Jan 27, 2021;
Posted Jan 27, 2021
Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to the crowd at a car rally campaign event for democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden on Monday Oct. 5, 2020 in Warren. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com
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Democrats are pressing to double the federal minimum wage to $15, introducing a standalone bill in Congress Tuesday as lawmakers and White House officials haggle over President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 stimulus plan, which also includes a bump to what some progressives denounce as the long-stagnant “starvation wage” of $7.25 per hour.
In addition to calling for a $15 minimum wage during the pandemic, Biden’s “rescue” plan includes more than $400 billion to cover $1,400 stimulus checks for millions of Americans; $400 billion for vaccines and to reopen schools; $35 billion to help local governments boost small businesses; and increased suppl
Raygun owner Draper joins in small business support for national $15 minimum wage Tuesday, January 26, 2021 2:51 PM A prominent Des Moines small business owner is siding with federal minimum wage advocates who say that “raising wages is good business.” Mike Draper, owner of Raygun LLC, a popular clothing, home goods and printing company in the East Village, participated in a live videoconference today with other business owners from around the country and members of the Committee on Education and Labor, Labor and Pensions in support of the Raise the Wage Act of 2021. The legislation would raise the federal minimum wage incrementally from $7.25 to an hour to $15 by 2025. “Paying people fairly leads to greater staff retention, which reduces the cost of hiring and training new people to replace employees who leave,” Draper said in a news release. “And fair pay leads to better quality, better ideas and better customer service.” Draper is a me