Sen. Hirono: If the Minimum Wage Had Kept Pace with the Cost of Living It Would Be Over $20

EXCERPT:

HIRONO: "There were probably be some efforts to cut back on the raising of the minimum wage, but everybody should remember that if the minimum wage had kept pace with the cost of living and other increases, we would be at over $20 as a minimum wage. We have not talked increased the minimum wage in our country in over a decade, and one of the many things that the pandemic disclosed was a huge economic disparity and that the people who are suffering the most economically are the lowest paid people in our country, many of whom are in the essential work categories. So the increase of minimum wage in the Biden bill is incremental and there should be serious debate and discussion about it, and as far as I'm concerned, the minimum wage should be increased incrementally."