The Biden administration is standing firm that President Joe Biden would like to see the federal minimum wage increased, as a report was released revealing it would cut 1.4 million jobs.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters during Mondayâs White House press briefing, âThe president remains firmly committed to raising the minimum wage to $15.â
âHe believes any American who is working a full-time job, trying to make ends meet, should not be at the poverty level,â Psaki added. âItâs important to him that the minimum wage is raised.â
Watch Psakiâs comments below:
Psakiâs remarks follow days after Biden indicated he did not believe raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour would be in his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. The federal minimum wage is currently at $7.25 per hour.
âMy guess is it will not be in it. But I do think that we should have a minimum wage, stand by itself, $15 an hour,â Biden said during a CBS News interview.
He also said, âNo one should work 40 hours a week and live below the poverty wage. And if youâre making less than $15 an hour, youâre living below the poverty wage.â
Bidenâs proposal of raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by June of 2025 would cut 1.4 million jobs, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It would also increase the U.S. deficit by $54 billion over a 10 year period. Raising the minimum wage would reduce poverty.
