Vice President Kamala Harris has officially announced her backing for increasing the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. This declaration comes after a recent exchange where she criticized former President Donald Trump for evading the question of whether he supports a wage hike.
The federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25 since 2009, prompting calls for an increase to better support working-class Americans. The topic gained prominence after Trump briefly worked at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania, drawing attention to the issue.
Harris had previously expressed her intention to raise the minimum wage but had not specified a specific amount until now. In an interview, she stated, 'At least $15 an hour, but we’ll work with Congress, right? That’s something that is going through Congress.' She emphasized the importance of ensuring that hardworking individuals, regardless of their place of employment, have the means to support themselves and their families adequately.
On the other hand, Trump's response to the minimum wage question was less direct. During his McDonald's visit, he praised the workers but did not explicitly state his stance on raising the federal minimum wage.
In reaction to Harris' endorsement of a $15 minimum wage, the Trump campaign criticized her position, accusing her of potentially harming the economy through what they termed as 'reckless spending.'
As the debate over the federal minimum wage continues to unfold, the contrasting views of the two candidates highlight a key policy difference between them. Harris advocates for a significant increase to $15 an hour to support workers, while Trump's stance remains less clear on this critical issue.
