Should the minimum wage be raised to $15 per hour?

Congressional Democrats have taken the first steps toward passing a $1.9 trillion stimulus package to help the country overcome the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to funding for stimulus checks, unemployment benefits and vaccinations, among others, it includes a plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.

The current national minimum wage of $7.25 was established in 2009. If the Democrats’ plan were to become law, that figure would immediately increase to $9.50 and gradually rise every year until it reaches $15 in 2025. After that, it would be reviewed annually and could be raised even higher if the median wages of all workers go up.

While the federal minimum wage has remained static for more than a decade, many states have increased theirs substantially in recent years. In November, Florida became the eighth state to approve a plan to raise its minimum wage to $15. But there are still 21 states where the minimum wage has stayed at $7.25. About 32 million American workers would see a raise if the federal minimum wage went up, according to a recent analysis.