Daily US Times: The Democratic push to raise the federal minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour has emerged as an early flashpoint in the fight for a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, testing the ability of President Biden, a Democrat, to bridge Washington’s partisan divides as he pursues his first major legislative victory.

Preisdent Joe Biden called for a $15 hourly minimum wage during his campaign and has followed through by hitching it to a measure that, among other things, $130 billion to help schools reopen and calls for $1,400 stimulus checks. Biden argues that anyone who does a full-time job should not live in poverty, echoing progressive members in his Democratic Party who are fully on board with the effort.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich, said: “With the economic divide, I mean, I want to see a $15 wage. It should actually be $20.”

Some Republicans support exploring an increase in minimum wage, but are uneasy with $15 an hour. They warn that such an increase in minimum wage could lead to job losses in an economy that has nearly 10 million fewer jobs than it did before the Covid pandemic began. Moderates such as Sen.

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rep. Tom Reed of New York are urging President Biden to split off the wage hike from coronavirus talks and deal with it separately.

Leading the charge is Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders who this week unveiled $15 minimum wage legislation with the backing of 37 Senate Democrats.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 and this has not been raised since 2009.

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