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Four republican presidents since 1938 have signed bills raising the minimum wage including both president bushes. so why are gop leaders so resistant to raising the minimum wage? >> i think it's a great question. there's partisanship, and what we have now is a lot worse than what i remember back in some of those minimum wage increases that you just referenced. actually, if you poll this measure, it does very well among republicans. not as well among democrats, but well over half support it. and that's because it's actually a pretty simple way to help those at the bottom of the pay scale, who h...

Boost is from measures like this. one of the things we noticed when states raised their wages, the lowest paid were among the few who did better. you've been talking and you just showed the president, about many of the economic improvements we saw in 2014. they are real. but it's fair to say the recovery has yet to reach the middle class. the minimum wage is an important correction for that. >> let me approach it this way, maria. when you look at the fact it's been five years since the minimum wage was raised and in that time here are five things that have gone up electricity is up 4% rent is ...

How are people expected to make ends meet? >> they can't. that's one reason why the minimum wage resonated so strongly during the elections across party lines. in arkansas they elected the majority of republicans, but the minimum wage bill to increase the minimum wage actually drew out individuals and said look, this is something that i don't care if i'm a republican democrat or independent, i believe the minimum wage is going to boost me and that's the reason why you'll see so many republicans talking about it, not only for 2015 but 2016. and something that jared mentioned, not only does mini...

1st, in 20 states they're going to be people who are getting a raise. more than 1,000 walmart stores across the country, they're having to adjust their pay schedule, so they can boost the wages of some of their workers. so we're seeing real people's lives made better by the pressure that's being put on here even if nothing is happening in washington. >> you're a member of congress and a senior member now. you've been there a while. i remember when you went in. and the pressure and the movements around minimum wage around immigration, around policing, does that register even in a republican con...

Might use this sort of thing not to hire. this combined with the hike in the minimum wage doesn't provide a conducive environment to higher. what do you think? >> friday we saw a big jump in part-time employment for economic reasons, i think we will see that trend continue. i think these employees are being honest. i think it's a pretty logical thing. i can only make x amount of business. if you keep extracting it, i have to make adjustments. if i can pass it on to customers, fine, if i have to fire people it's hard to get it right when the white house won't be honest. they said they don't kno...