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One to Keep An Eye On: Raise the Wage Act of 2019 (US Congress)


As with many employment and labor related cases (and bills) being litigated around the country, there are always a few that stand out.  This is one to keep an eye on.


Readers will recall that during last November’s elections, Democrats took back control of the House of Representatives.   As a result, many expected that once the new legislative session began earlier this month, House Democrats would seek to advance their agenda by introducing bills catered to their base.  It did not take long for that to happen.  Late last week, House Democrats introduced a bill, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019, that seeks to gradually raise the federal hourly minimum wage rate from $7.25/hour up to $15/hour.  While Democrats appear to have the votes to advance the bill to the Senate, that is where many expect it will meet the buzzsaw as Republicans still retain majority control of the Senate.  As readers are likely aware, a majority of Republicans (including in the Senate) have shown little interest in increasing the federal hourly minimum wage rate.  Without Senate Republicans supporting the measure, it is highly likely the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 would die in the Senate.

With that being said, there might be a reason for Democrats and minimum wage advocates to be optimistic.  For one, a companion minimum wage bill is making its way through the Senate. At this point, that bill appears to have support somewhere in the 30’s; still short of the requisite number of votes, but it is a step in the right direction.  As well, President Donald Trump had previously campaigned on a position of raising the federal hourly minimum wage rate to $10/hour.  If President Trump began urging Senate Republicans to support a federal hourly minimum wage hike, it is possible there could be a compromise reached.  While $15/hour might not be a realistic goal if Republicans were to jump on board, perhaps $10 or $11 per hour would be a possibility.

With that being said, for the time being, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 is likely nothing more than a talking point for Democrats and their supporters for the time being.  With Senate Republicans and pro business groups likely to mobilize in force against this bill, should it advance to the Senate, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 appears to not have legs if it advances out of the House.  

At the very least, however, Democrats continue to keep a minimum wage hike at the forefront and part of the national discussion.  With many states approving minimum wage hikes to statewide minimum wages last year (including in somewhat conservative states such as Arkansas and Arizona), perhaps we are not necessarily too far away from an eventual federal minimum wage hike?  While it likely will not happen this year, perhaps within the next few.  Stay tuned.


For additional information:  https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/house-democrats-introduce-bill-to-hike-minimum-wage-to-15-per-hour.html

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