Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee calls for $50 minimum wage in California
By Washington Times Staff
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In the race to fill the vacant seat once held late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee has sparked controversy with her proposal for a striking increase in the federal minimum wage to $50 per hour — more than six times the current federal rate.
Ms. Lee, who is vying for the Senate seat in a competitive primary that includes Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter, as well as Republican Steve Garvey, argues that the state’s cost-of-living crisis makes it implausible for residents to sustain on salaries less than $100,000 annually.
“Just do the math,” Ms. Lee said. “In the Bay area, I believe it was the United Way that came out with a report that very recently $127,000 for a family of four is just barely enough to get by. Another survey very recently [found] $104,000 for a family of one, barely enough to get by.”
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. The California minimum wage is $16 an hour. A wage of $50 per hour comes out to $104,000 annually for a 40-hour week.
During a Senate debate, Ms. Lee was questioned on the feasibility of her minimum wage proposal for small business sustainability. She defended her stance, emphasizing the importance of providing employees with a “living wage” to ensure their well-being.
Representing California’s 12th District, which encompasses areas such as Oakland and Berkeley, Ms. Lee‘s advocacy for a substantial minimum wage hike comes at a time when the cost of living in the U.S. continues to rise, with particular challenges in California, where income levels vary significantly across cities.
Her Democratic contenders have expressed support for raising the minimum wage to the $20-$25 range. Conversely, Mr. Garvey believes the current federal minimum wage is adequate.
