Golden State Today

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is including the minimum wage hike in the current COVID-19 relief package despite being ruled out by Senate Republicans last Thursday.

Pelosi argued that the wage hike will help 27 million Americans get through this harrowing situation that the country is in. The pandemic is far from over and many Americans are unable to resume their way of life because of it. Raising the minimum wage can help them weather the storm, according to Pelosi.

But some Republicans are arguing that though workers will get financial help through a wage hike, this bill would put a strain on American businesses. They argue that raising the wages of employees will put pressure on businesses in a time they are tightening their budget.

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said, “Workers and small businesses face devastating days ahead if a radical $15 federal minimum wage is enacted, hurting mostly the people Democrats claim it will help.” She added, “This radical provision will destroy millions of jobs while Americans are desperate to reenter the workforce, redistribute—not reduce—poverty, and significantly increase costs for families at a time when many are forced to tighten their belts.”