Moderate Democrats Should Support a Higher Minimum Wage

As centrist Democrats strive to hold the Senate in the moderate mainstream, they need to fulfill their promise of assisting People of Color.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

In recent days, the Biden Administration and Democrats have started the process of pushing their stimulus package forward. The $1.9 trillion stimulus deal was recently introduced into the Senate where a party-line vote was made to push the legislation forward through budget reconciliation. This maneuver allows the package to avoid the filibuster and become law through a simple majority. However, just as the party-line vote was made Joe Manchin, a centrist Democrat, made his intentions clear that if Republicans did come on board to support the measure he may not support the deal. Additionally, Manchin has opposed the minimum wage increase to $15 per hour. As the debate begins over the package’s size and scope, one has to wonder why a stimulus deal that would largely support minority groups is being challenged by moderate Democrats.

Historically speaking, crises impact PoC the most. Covid-19 shows no sign of being different. Already subjected to racial and economic injustice, the debate over the stimulus package is going to disproportionately impact Black and Brown Americans. Studies show that…