Conservative Senator Josh Hawley breaks ranks to introduce higher minimum wage bill, GOP horrified

Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley is preparing to propose a new law called the “Higher Wages for American Workers Act.”

This law aims to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026, with future increases linked to inflation. This move goes against usual Republican and GOP positions and places Senator Hawley, a prominent conservative, alongside Democratic Senator Peter Welch, who has agreed to back the bill as a co-sponsor.

Both senators highlighted that the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour has remained unchanged since 2009, and they argued this has contributed to a crisis where many families cannot afford basic necessities like housing and food. They believe workers need a wage that allows them to live decently.

Hawley said in a statement to CBS News, “For decades, working Americans have seen their wages flatline. One major culprit of this is the failure of the federal minimum wage to keep up with the economic reality facing hard-working Americans every day. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that workers across America benefit from higher wages.”

A Republican senator is pushing to raise minimum wage

Hawley’s proposal marks a significant break from traditional Republican thinking, as the party generally resists raising the federal minimum wage, fearing it could harm businesses and cause prices to rise. However, this step suggests a potential shift within the Republican Party, influenced by the populist ideas of former President Trump. Trump’s populist approach has drawn many working-class voters to the Republican Party, and Hawley has been trying to strengthen that support.

The minimum wage bill is part of Hawley’s broader strategy called the “Pro-Worker Framework for the 119th Congress,” which also includes measures to support labor unions and strengthen workers’ ability to bargain collectively.

This plan reflects Hawley’s continued focus on worker issues. Previously, he collaborated with Senator Bernie Sanders on a bill to cap credit card interest rates at 10%. He has also introduced other legislation requiring large corporations to pay a minimum wage of $15. Recently, he encouraged his party to avoid reducing Medicaid benefits.

His pro-worker stance is further evident in his support for a Missouri state law that increased the minimum wage to $15 per hour, a measure approved by voters in November 2024. However, the state legislature later removed the provision that would have tied future wage increases to inflation.

Hawley’s effort to raise the minimum wage contrasts with the current administration’s approach, but Hawley’s is the same senator that tried to ban TikTok, so he’s back and forth a lot. President Trump overturned a rule from the Biden administration that had increased the minimum wage for federal contractors to $17.75 per hour. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also emphasized that the administration believes minimum wage decisions should be left to states, not the federal government.

Hawley’s bill is likely to spark major divisions within the Republican Party. There is a real possibility the party could split over this issue, with traditional conservatives opposing the bill while others may support it due to its populist appeal and potential to attract working-class voters.