WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Joe Biden has signalted he’s willing to move forward an an aggressive COVID aid plan, he is conceding that a key element of his plan — hiking the minimum wage to $15 per hour — is unlikely to become law.
The proposal lacks full support from Democrats in the Senate, which must keep all 50 Senators together to pass the full package.
“No one should work 40 hours a week and live below the poverty wage. And if you’re making less than $15 an hour, you’re living below the poverty wage,” Biden said in a TV interview.
U.S. Senate candidate Tom Nelson also is pushing for an increase from the current federal minimum wage of $7.25.
“The reality is, we need to raise the minimum wage. Our essential and front-line workers deserve better,” Nelson said.
Democrat Nelson, the Outagamie County Executive and former state Assembly majority leader, is the only declared candidate for in the 2022 U.S. Senate race.
Nelson notes that the Economic Policy Institute says that The majority of workers who would benefit are adult women—many of whom have attended college and many of whom have children.
- More than half (51%) of workers who would benefit are adults between the ages of 25 and 54; only one in 10 is a teenager.
- Nearly six in 10 (59%) are women.
- More than half (54%) work full time.
- More than four in 10 (43%) have some college experience.
- More than a quarter (28%) have children