Prominent liberal members of Congress will introduce a bill Wednesday that would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by the year 2024.
Vermont Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders, Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, Virginia Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott, and Arizona Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva are behind the latest effort at a $15 minimum wage.
Bloomberg Businessweek’s Josh Eidelson reported the news via Twitter Monday afternoon.
Bernie Sanders, Sen. Murray, Keith Ellison, Bobby Scott, Raul Grijalva et al will unveil bill Wednesday to raise minimum wage to $15 by 2024
— Josh Eidelson (@josheidelson) April 24, 2017
Sanders joined the new chair of the Democratic National Committee, Tom Perez, on a multi-state “unity tour” in red and purple states across the country. The self-described democratic-socialist remains the most popular Democratic politician, even if he identifies himself as an independent.
Murray has pushed for a federal minimum wage increase in the past, introducing the “Raise the Wage Act” in April 2015. The legislation called for the federal minimum wage to be increased from $7.25 to $12 an hour by 2020. The bill never made it far in the Republican-controlled Congress, but Murray has remained a leader in efforts to increase the federal minimum wage.
Ellison lost narrowly to Perez in the DNC chairperson race and remains a favorite among liberal activists. The progressive Minnesota-Democrat is a favorite among unions, and has been a strong advocate for the Fight for Fifteen movement.
Grijalva, who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) with Ellison, was a part of efforts by the CPC to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour in the summer of 2015. Shortly after Murray’s efforts, the CPC introduced the “Pay Workers a Living Wage Act” in July 2015.
Scott joined Murray in sponsoring efforts to get the minimum wage to $12 per hour in 2015, arguing (at the time) that a $12 minimum wage was much more politically feasible at the time.
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