That's even as the productivity and efficiency of workers has more than doubled, he said. "The failure to increase the minimum wage has really undercut the wages of the bottom third of the work force," Mishel said. A fight earlier this year to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour was unsuccessful. One reason why: That change was prohibited during the so-called reconciliation process. Consequently, a push by some lawmakers for a wage rate hike was not included. Even as some Americans clamor for more stimulus checks, others ask: Why can't we have a higher minimum wage instead? Congressional outlook uncertain