Senate Republicans advanced their war against American workers Wednesday when they blocked a Democratic effort to raise the minimum wage and implement guaranteed paid sick days, reported The Hill.
The GOP blocked Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, from getting unanimous support to clear a vote on two measures by October 30. One measure called for an increase of the minimum wage to $12, and the other called for seven guaranteed paid sick days a year.
Democrats “are very concerned about many Americans today who make a few dollars an hour, who don’t have paid sick leave, who are told to go to work at hours they cannot control,” said Murray. Republicans completely deny the need for an increased minimum wage and guaranteed sick days.
“What we’ve just seen from our friends across the aisle is not designed to get anything actually done,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who blocked Murray’s effort. “It was a show to try to claim political advantage and to try to create a narrative that simply isn’t borne out by the facts.”
Republicans certainly know a thing about political theater. It’s their bread and butter. However, the Democrats’ push for an increased minimum wage and guaranteed sick time is something the party has long been fighting to achieve.
