Arr, some scallywag GOP buccaneers be wantin' to up the federal wage, but fer true blue American hearties only!
2023-09-15
Arrr! GOP scallywags Tom Cotton and Mitt Romney be bringin' forth a bill to lift the lowest pay fer them landlubbers who can prove they be true citizens o' this fine land. Aye, a clever trick, indeed!
Sen. Tom Cotton and Sen. Mitt Romney have re-introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage, but with a twist – it would only apply to legal workers who verify their American citizenship. Cotton argues that American workers are competing against illegal immigrants for low-paying jobs, and raising the minimum wage would allow Americans to better support their families. The bill, called the Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2023, proposes a gradual increase in the minimum wage from $7.25 to $11 over the next four years, with regular adjustments for inflation. The 2021 version of the bill had similar requirements but proposed an increase to $10 an hour.The revised bill also includes provisions for small businesses and mandates the use of E-Verify to confirm citizenship. It would penalize employers who hire illegal immigrants and require workers aged 18 and above to provide a photo ID for verification. Romney, in his statement, highlighted the need to protect American jobs and eliminate a key driver of illegal immigration. Notably, the bill was introduced just hours before Romney announced his retirement.
The bill has garnered support from other GOP senators, including Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Shelley Moore Capito, and J.D. Vance. On the other hand, Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed raising the federal minimum wage to $17 by 2028, criticizing the existing rate as a "starvation wage." Labor unions in states like New York, California, and Massachusetts have also been pushing for higher minimum wages, some aiming for $20 or more.