On a national day of action for fast-food workers, who walked out of their jobs and demonstrated at large rallies in hundreds of American cities, some Republicans running for president were saying wages are already too great.
“Wages are too high,” said Donald Trump, when asked during Tuesday night’s debate whether he sympathizes with activists demanding the minimum wage be hiked to $15. “We are not going to be able to compete against the world. … We have to leave it the way it is. We just can’t do it.”
It was not a surprising position. Republicans have been out front about their opposition to increasing the minimum wage. But Democrats were surely delighted to see Republicans talk about it on a prominent national stage. All the Democrats running for president want to see a hike to at least $12 an hour, and they return to the issue repeatedly on the campaign trail.
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign made sure her supporters were aware of the discussion. It sent them an email minutes after the Republicans moved on from the minimum-wage issue, quoting what each of the candidates on the stage said.
The Republican candidates warned a wage hike would be disastrous. “If you raise the minimum wage, you are going to make people more expensive than a machine,” Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said. Ben Carson warned that a wage hike would create a surge of joblessness among African Americans.
Only Ohio Gov. John Kasich offered an alternative point of view. He stopped short of saying he supports a wage hike, but he also warned: “Economic theory is fine, but you know what? People need help. … To just look the other way is not acceptable.”(EVAN HALPER)
Link : http://www.latimes.com//nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-11102015-htmlstory.html#84993059
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