Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is not holding back when it comes to the discussion of whether or not to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.
“Any person who thinks that a $15 minimum wage is the ‘crazy, socialist agenda’ is living in a dystopian, capitalist nightmare,” Ocasio-Cortez said during an MSNBC interview late Sunday.
She continued, “We should not prop that up. We should not continue that. People are sleeping in their cars.”
The New York lawmaker called it “deeply shameful” that it is being debated on raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
Watch Ocasio-Cortez’s interview below:
"Any person who thinks that a $15 minimum wage is the 'crazy, socialist agenda' is living in a dystopian, capitalist nightmare. We should not prop that up. We should not continue that. People are sleeping in their cars," Rep. Ocasio-Cortez says about increasing the minimum wage. pic.twitter.com/71K9iVkfKX
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 1, 2021
Democratic lawmakers are pushing to have the $15 minimum wage hike in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan. They are looking to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2025.
Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) pose a threat to Democrats’ plans.
The two senators have indicated they oppose using budget reconciliation to pass the minimum wage increase.
The House of Representatives passed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on Saturday.
Now, the spotlight is on the Senate.
The Senate is 50-50 between Republican and Democrat seats. If all Democrats were to vote for the package with no Republican support then Vice President Kamala Harris would cast the tie-breaking vote.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said during an NBC “Meet the Press” interview Sunday, “We will figure out a way to do this,” adding, “Democrats are united in raising wages… we’re going to make it happen.”