California Democrat Congresswoman Barbara Lee advocated for a $50 minimum wage, citing the high cost of living in areas such as the Bay Area.
She argued that current wages are insufficient for families to survive.
“In the Bay Area, I believe it was the United Way … came out with a report that very recently $127,000 for a family of four is just barely enough to get by,” Lee said.
Senate candidate Rep. Barbara Lee wants to raise the minimum wage to $50 an hour
— B U Z Z W I R E (@buzzwirehq) February 14, 2024
“Just do the math. Of course, we have national minimum wages that we need to raise to a living wage,” Lee added. “We’re talking about $20, $25 — fine. But I have got to be focused on what California needs and what the affordability factor is when we calculate this wage,” she said.
However, Republican candidate Steve Garvey believes the minimum wage is appropriate, warning that a significant increase would lead to higher consumer prices.
The debate highlighted differing views on the purpose of minimum wage jobs as entry points rather than sustainable careers.
Critics, like restaurant owner Andrew Gruel, fear that such a drastic wage hike could devastate small businesses and lead to economic inflation, likening the proposal to “communism light.”
“Every single business in California would go under,” Gruel said.
“This lady is a moron and narcissist who’s saying stupid things to get attention at best. At worst, she’s trying to buy votes,” Gruel said.
“This is going to lead to upward pressure on all wages. It’s going to totally inflate the entire economy of California, which is already there, and there will be no independent businesses in California. One hundred percent of the businesses will be run by state and they will rely on the state,” he said.
“It’s communism light,” he added.
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