This past Wednesday, Republicans in the Senate blocked a proposed measure that would have gradually raised the minimum wage to $10.10. Latinos, who tend to hold the vast majority of minimum wage jobs, will feel the impact of this block more than any other group in the U.S.
“As the fastest-growing segment of the American workforce, Latinos understand the value of hard work,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza. “Unfortunately, there are far too many hardworking individuals in this country who struggle to provide basic necessities for their families because they aren’t paid decent, livable wages.”
According to a Center for American Progress report, if the minimum wage would be raised, 6 million American workers would been given the chance to no longer live in poverty, 60 percent of them being people of color.
Though the block was not a complete surprise, the Republican decision is thought to be strictly political, as it is one of President Obama’s main priorities in his 2014 agenda.
“With this vote, America can make a clear moral judgment about where its political leaders stand,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “This issue deserves more than a partisan response. Raising the minimum wage is bigger than politics; it’s the right thing to do. It will create jobs and grow our economy. Politicians are elected to represent their constituents.”
The lack of the GOP’s understanding of how important raising the minimum wage not only to Latinos, but to all Americans, is utterly shameful and embarrassing, but what can we expect from a party who seems to be fading-away from reality each important issue at a time.
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