Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer could not explain why a $15 minimum wage for all was best for workers after a conference Wednesday on Capitol Hill.
At a “Raise The Wage” event in the U.S. Capitol, Pelosi and Hoyer were joined by workers from across the country who believe a $15 minimum wage would help them and their families get out of poverty. Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democratic Washington Sen. Patty Murray and a few other members of Congress were at the event.
The legislation itself would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024. However, both Pelosi and Hoyer seemed interested in raising the amount, but would not say why.
The Daily Caller News Foundation asked Pelosi after the conference why she would not raise the minimum wage to $20 and why $15 would be such an effective number that would “benefit” the economy. Pelosi refused to answer and walked out of the room.
“I’m interested in the deal there and the getting there, and I think this is a bill that we can pass and get the votes — and that’s important,” said Hoyer in response to TheDCNF’s question. But he walked away without responding when it came time to answer if $20 or another amount would work.
WATCH:
Pelosi arrives at a raise the minimum wage event in the U.S. Capitol. pic.twitter.com/TDG6w73oIi
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) January 16, 2019
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin, House Speaker designate Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer talk to journalists following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“The federal minimum wage of $7.25 is a starvation wage. That is why I, along with many other members of Congress, will introduce legislation this week to raise that wage to $15 an hour. If you work 40 hours a week, you should not live in poverty,” Sanders wrote in a Monday tweet. (RELATED: Bernie Sanders Will Introduce Bill To Increase Minimum Wage To $15)
The Washington, D.C., City Council voted to repeal an initiative that would have raised the minimum wage for all tipped employees in an 8-5 vote Oct. 2 after continued pushback from workers across the nation’s capital.
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