7 Democrat Senators Vote “NO” to Sanders $15 Minimum Wage Amendment; Job Creators Network Applauds Their Votes to Protect Small Businesses
Washington, DC (March 5, 2021)- Today, the U.S. Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.
“The message from today’s vote is that Democrats are going to be relentless in pushing for a minimum wage hike this year,” said Alfredo Ortiz, President and CEO of the Job Creators Network (JCN). “The Senate parliamentarian explicitly prohibited a minimum wage hike from being included in the stimulus bill, and yet that didn’t stop 42 Democrats from voting for it. If the amendment had passed, it would have created a congressional crisis – that’s how eager most Democrats are for a $15 minimum wage. We thank Democrat Sens. Manchin, Sinema, Tester, Shaheen, Hassan, Coons, Carper, and Senate Independent King (who caucuses with Democrats) for voting against it. We also thank the 50 Republican Senators who voted ‘no.’ Going forward, left-wing Democrats will push harder to eliminate the filibuster. Meanwhile, centrist Democrats will try to compromise with Republicans. Compromise is possible, if only the Democrats will recognize it: expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC has a long history of bipartisan support because it rewards work through the tax code without burdening small businesses. With the economy in a fragile state, a big increase in the minimum wage would be like handing a drowning man an anvil. JCN will continue fighting against a minimum wage increase, while advocating for the EITC as a solution that works.”
On Wednesday, JCN released a letter signed by over 700 small business leaders against the stimulus bill vs Pelosi’s 300 in support of it. To learn more, click here.