Yesterday, Bob Herbert noted that the federal minimum wage's purchasing power has deteriorated by 20% over the last decade. After adjusting for inflation, the value of the minimum wage is at its lowest level since 1955.
House Republicans are apparently feeling the heat. They've repeatedly blocked consideration of an increase, but are now prepared to give the issue a floor vote.
With Democrats plotting to make the minimum wage a major issue in this fall's congressional races, House Republican leaders are conceding that they may have to yield to pressure for an increase to the federal standard, which has been frozen for nearly a decade.
Faced with elections that could cost them control of Congress, John A. Boehner, the House majority leader, acknowledged Thursday that Republican leaders are likely to reverse course and hold a vote on a proposed minimum wage increase. Though Boehner said it was a "cynical ploy" for Democrats to make it a campaign centerpiece, polls indicate that voters clearly favor an increase in the wage, and Boehner acknowledged that GOP leaders are "probably going to have to find some way to deal with it."
A week earlier, Boehner, an Ohio Republican, all but ruled out allowing a vote on the matter, saying an increase is "very bad economic policy."
Keep in mind, Senate Republicans already helped reject an increase, and House Republicans will likely do the same.
But at least voters will have a chance to consider how every member of Congress — especially those who don't mind seeing their own taxpayer-financed salary go up — votes on a minimum-wage increase before the November elections.
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