Conservative Sen. Josh Hawley wants to raise federal minimum wage

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

June 10, 2025 / 6:03 AM EDT


Missouri GOP Sen. Josh Hawley plans to introduce legislation Tuesday to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour — a position that aligns one of the most conservative Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill with some of the most liberal members of Congress. The legislation, called the "Higher Wages for American Workers Act," would raise the federal standard starting in 2026 and would also call for an increase in subsequent years to match inflation, CBS News has exclusively learned. Vermont Democratic Sen. Peter Welch has signed on as a co-sponsor.

"For decades, working Americans have seen their wages flatline. One major culprit of this is the failure of the federal minimum wage to keep up with the economic reality facing hard-working Americans every day," Hawley said in a statement to CBS News. "This bipartisan legislation would ensure that workers across America benefit from higher wages."

"We're in the midst of a severe affordability crisis, with families in red and blue states alike struggling to afford necessities like housing and groceries," Welch said in a statement to CBS. "A stagnant federal minimum wage only adds fuel to the fire. Every hard-working American deserves a living wage that helps put a roof over their head and food on the table — $7.25 an hour doesn't even come close."

The federal minimum wage currently sits at $7.25 per hour and has not risen since 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The move by Hawley puts him at odds with conservative party orthodoxy, which has traditionally opposed a federal minimum wage increase on the grounds that it would be costly for businesses and ultimately, for consumers. But Hawley's pitch is reflective of the party's realignment in the Trump era, where the president's brand of populism has fueled a shift among working-class voters away from Democrats and towards Republicans.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/josh-hawley-raise-federal-minimum-wage/

[Fullduplexxx]

1. I believe the right refers to this as buying votes

[Raven123]

2. Must be seeing some bad polling data

[Fullduplexxx]

11. And some worrisome election results

[Raven123]

13. Good point

[Shellback Squid]

3. who's running against him that caused these alligator tears for the working class??

[Rebl2]

6. He just

won re-election last year. I don’t think anyone is running against him yet.

[Shellback Squid]

7. yes, still i wonder why now?, he's not up for reelection until 2030

[Rebl2]

8. No clue

[Volaris]

17. The republican controlled state legislature in MO..

is fucking around with trying to overturn a couple of ballot initive amendments that passed that they don't like; that, and he knows how many red-poors in the state will lose Medicaid coverage on this tax bill.
Hes tacking center on this so he can say 'it wasn't me' when the people get mad and get out the pitchforks.

[Silent Type]

4. He also opposes Medicaid cuts. Wouldn't vote for him, but do you think Democrats will vote against $15/hour

because a Republican is sponsoring a bill?

BTW: Hawley won 55% to 42%, so don't think he's under great pressure in 2030 unless things change. It is Missouri.

[eggplant]

5. 2030 is forever from now.

[Fullduplexxx]

12. Well that's just it he's sort of promising it but when it comes down to doing it he won't

This is all about the 2026

[Jose Garcia]

9. He is trying to build a populist record to run for President in 2028

[Aristus]

10. That, and/or

He and the other Reich-wingers are waking up to the fact that they will never get their single-income-man-works-woman-stays-home-with-the-kids family model to work unless employers start paying a living wage.

I don't think this initiative has legs. The corporate campaign donors will smack it down pretty hard sooner or later.

[fujiyamasan]

14. This is my guess too

A kinder, gentler fascist with a faux populist tone.

[Nonnia Bisnez]

15. If he is sencere and wants to try,

he'll get no objections from me.

[kimbutgar]

16. I guess his poll numbers must be bad

But he easily got re elected so I’m shocked he’s actually cares about his constituents! 😱😱😱😱😱🙀🙀

[HeartsCanHope]

18. There will be some catch to this--Hawley never does the right thing!

Also, he'll vote against his own bill if he gets blow back. Biggest coward ever!

[area51]

19. "$7.25 an hour doesn't even come close."

Unfortunately, even $15/hour won't pay for apt. rent in any state.

[thought crime]

20. Trying to repair the image of the Republican Party

There is a very small faction of mostly younger Republicans who want to improve the party’s position with the working class. A few, like Saagar Enjeti, seem to be sincere, if naive. Others may see it as a way to expand the hype about the white working class and make the false claim that Republicans are really the party of the working class in general, which is absurd. It's an attempt to chip a few percentage points off Democrats' voting base.