How long will Republicans resist an increase in the federal minimum wage?

[think]

How long will Republicans resist an increase in the federal minimum wage?

By Paul Waldman - December 26, 2016

Last week, Ohio Gov. John Kasich — remember him, the supposedly moderate one? — signed a law forbidding municipalities in the state from raising their own minimum wages, in a tribute to the working-class voters who helped deliver the state and the election to Donald Trump. He was following in the footsteps of his colleague Mike Pence, who, as governor of Indiana, signed a similar preemption law keeping wages down in the state. And with Republicans in complete control of the federal government, it's going to be many years before we get another increase of the minimum wage at the national level.

Why? Because in recent years, you've needed Democrats to control Congress in order to pass an increase. Today's Republicans may be more united against it than ever before, but if the past has taught us anything, it's this: As the years go by, and the real value of the minimum wage is eroded by inflation, pressure will build until Republicans relent to Democratic demands for an increase. The last time this happened was in 2007, when a bill phasing in increases (up to the current level of $7.25 in 2009) was passed by a Democratic Congress and signed by George W. Bush. Not only did every Democrat vote for the bill, but 82 Republicans in the House and 45 in the Senate did, too.

There's no telling what Donald Trump would do if such a bill reached his desk, since over the course of the 2016 presidential campaign, he took just about every position imaginable on the minimum wage. At various points, he said that it should be increased, that it shouldn't be increased, and that there should be no federal minimum wage at all.

But so long as Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are in charge, Trump won't have to worry about any of this. And of course, Trump has assembled a Cabinet full of millionaires and billionaires who believe, deep in their hearts, that the only way to help those at the bottom of the economic ladder is by delivering huge tax breaks to those at the top. Surely there will be no one more opposed to the minimum wage in the Trump administration than the man charged with enforcing wage and labor laws, labor secretary Andy Puzder, CEO of the parent company of Hardee's and Carl's Jr. As one worker advocate told Mother Jones, "Puzder's past is riddled with class-action wage theft lawsuits, sexist remarks, and falsehoods that paint wage increases as 'job killers,' minimum-wage earners as entitled teenagers, and his own employees as lazy welfare recipients."..

Read more:
http://theweek.com/articles/669296/how-long-republicans-resist-increase-federal-minimum-wage

[TexasProgresive]

1. Until the end of them.

Here's some issues that are non-negotiable with the 'Pukes:
1. Lower or no taxes for the wealthy.
2. Get rid of Social Security.
3. Get rid of unemployment insurance.
4. Get rid of Medicare and Medicaid.
5. Kill all unions- they might bend a little for police unions but in the end they would squash them as well.
6. Do away with all employee protections.
7. Lift all regulations that protect the air, water and food.
8. Allow employers to pay as little or much as they wish.

There are more, but I am tired of typing.

[Johnathan146]

2. They need to index it to inflation

Make at least a small increase automatic every year to keep up with inflation.

[yeoman6987]

3. I always thought that'd be the best way

[liberal N proud]

4. Only one way they would ever allow an increase

If the low wage earners ever organized and in unison brought this nation to a stand still.

They have the ability, the problem is they cannot afford to take the financial hit it would require.