Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota responded to Josh Hawley’s attempt to raise the minimum wage by objecting to the existence of a federal minimum wage, claiming it’s not necessary.
Senator Hawley, along with Democratic Sen. Peter Welch, are sponsoring the new bill that will raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, starting in 2026.
VARNEY: This is just coming to us. Republican Senator Josh Hawley is going to introduce a new bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15. The bill is co-sponsored by Democrat Peter Welch. This bill would also increase the minimum wage in subsequent years to keep up with inflation.
The federal minimum wage right now is $7.25 What do you think about raising the federal minimum wage?
CRAMER: Well, I don’t even know why we have a quote federal minimum wage, to be honest, because I don’t know anybody.
Where I come from in North Dakota, people are, you know, businesses are fortunate if they can get somebody for less than $15.
And I think the market works really well, Stuart.
And I think that when you raise a minimum wage of $15, you reduce the number of people who can get a beginner’s job, work at a fast food restaurant, work whatever the case might be in the service sector or otherwise.
So I don’t, I just think manipulating markets with mandatory wages doesn’t make any sense.
