Bernie Sanders Advocates for $17 Minimum Wage and Bipartisan Support with Trump

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Senator Bernie Sanders proposes a $17 minimum wage, seeking bipartisan support with President-elect Donald Trump to address stagnant federal wages.

At a Glance

  • Sanders aims to collaborate with Trump on raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25
  • The current minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2009
  • Sanders labels the current wage as “absolutely disgraceful” and a “starvation wage”
  • Previous attempts to raise the wage to $15 failed due to lack of Republican support

Sanders Seeks Collaboration with Trump on Minimum Wage

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has expressed his willingness to work with President-elect Donald Trump to address the issue of the federal minimum wage. During an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” with host Kristen Welker, Sanders highlighted the urgent need to increase the current minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009.

Sanders criticized the current wage as “absolutely disgraceful,” emphasizing that many workers struggle to afford basic necessities on such low pay. The senator’s call for bipartisan cooperation comes after previous attempts to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour failed due to a lack of Republican support.

Proposed $17 Minimum Wage

In a bold move, Sanders is now advocating for a $17 per hour minimum wage. This proposal marks an increase from his previous push for $15 an hour, which garnered only 42 votes in the Senate. The senator hopes that by working with Trump, who has acknowledged that the current minimum wage is too low, they can achieve bipartisan support for this significant increase.

Trump has previously stated that raising the minimum wage can be complicated due to varying costs of living across states. However, Sanders argues that a federal increase is necessary to ensure workers can meet their basic needs.

Potential for Bipartisan Economic Policies

The potential collaboration between Sanders and Trump on minimum wage is not the only area where the two politicians may find common ground. Both have expressed interest in addressing high credit card interest rates. During his campaign, Trump suggested capping credit card interest rates at 10 percent.

Similarly, Sanders, along with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, introduced the Loan Shark Prevention Act, which proposes a 15 percent cap on consumer credit interest rates. This alignment on economic policies could pave the way for bipartisan cooperation on issues affecting working-class Americans.

Challenges and Opposition

While Sanders expresses optimism about working with Trump, it’s important to note that previous attempts to raise the minimum wage have faced significant opposition. The last federal minimum wage increase occurred in 2009, raising the rate from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour. Since then, efforts to further increase the wage have stalled in Congress.

Some states have taken matters into their own hands, implementing higher minimum wages to address the rising cost of living. However, a federal increase would ensure a baseline standard across all states, potentially reducing income inequality and improving the lives of millions of low-wage workers.

As discussions around minimum wage continue, it remains to be seen whether Sanders and Trump can forge a bipartisan path forward on this critical economic issue. The outcome of their potential collaboration could have far-reaching implications for workers across the United States.

Sources:

  1. Sanders says he hopes to work with Trump to raise minimum wage
  2. ‘I surely hope’ to work with Trump to raise the minimum wage, Sen. Bernie Sanders says
  3. Sanders says he hopes to work with Trump to raise minimum wage
  4. Bernie Sanders Hopes to Work With Donald Trump on Key Issue

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