Also, to campaign on the issue
(Washington Post) The New York Times reported this morning (echoing the reporting of Greg Sargent and others earlier this year) that Democrats plan to campaign on raising the minimum wage during the election season.
Wait, I thought they were going to campaign on Obamacare?
Aside from being good economic policy, raising the minimum wage is quite popular, even among moderates and conservatives. Democrats also hope it shows the party is focused on improving the economic fortunes of Americans and not getting bogged down in Beltway bickering.
Essentially, they want to manufacture a diversionary populist wedge issue using Other People’s Money.
Anyhow, writer George Zornick thinks it would be super swell if Barack would issue an executive order forcing federal contractors to increase their pay to some vague number, starting at $10.10 an hour or something
Every good argument for raising the federal minimum wage exists here: The existing minimum wage is inadequate and exploitative, and the fact these workers are doing work for, and being paid by, U.S. taxpayers makes it all the more troublesome. The economic lots of federal contract workers would be improved, and more money would end up going into the economy.
Two points: first, this seems to be highlighting trickle down, where people with money spend it. Second, and more important, jisy because they are paid by Los Federales doesn’t mean their pay should be jacked up artificially, especially not at the whim of a dictator. On the contrary, Los Federales should be frugal with The People’s money.
Oh, and 3rd: liberals should be careful in pushing for legislation by executive fiat. They won’t always hold the office of the presidency.
