Republicans Outfox Democrats on Minimum Wage

Republicans, much to my surprise and pleasure, have really out-manuevered the Democrats in the battle over a destructive increase in the federal minimum wage.

An effort to increase the minimum wage in all states, even those that already have wage floors higher than the federal base, failed Thursday after Democrats labeled it a "poison pill."

Democrats said the Republican proposal was designed to kill underlying minimum wage legislation.

An amendment offered by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., was an effort to show how raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 over 26 months would have no effect in eight states because they already have wage floors of $7.25 or higher. Another two states have scheduled minimum wage increases that also would place them above the proposed federal floor.

Eighteen other states have higher minimum wages than the current federal floor, but not as high as the $7.25 in the proposed legislation.

"This is a mandate on low-cost-of-living states, but not on high-cost-of-living states," DeMint said.

Perhaps by the end of the debate people will understand why a federal minimum wage increase is a bad idea.

VIDEO:
DeMint explains his amendement

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