More Republicans Oppose Federal Minimum Wage

This midterm election cycle, GOP candidates are coming out against a federal floor on wages.

Asked if she supported raising the minimum wage, Michigan's Terri Lynn Land, who is running for Senate, said, "As a general rule, I believe this issue should be handled by the states, not the federal government."

Joni Ernst, a Republican running for Senate in Iowa, had a similar answer. She said, "I do believe that is something that needs to be set by the states, because our Iowa cost of living is very low. Currently it is at $7.25 an hour, and I'm someone that worked the minimum wage way back when, when it was much lower."

Thom Tillis, the Republican Senate contender in North Carolina, has dodged the question a number of times. But he's actually said, "We need to understand the job killing consequences to these sorts of policies."

And in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker, who is up for reelection, has proclaimed, "I don't think it serves a purpose."

An overwhelming number of Americans – across party lines – support raising wages.

On National Minimum Wage Day, raising awareness for $10.10 on Oct. 10, CWA President Larry Cohen appeared on The Ed Show. He said:

The minimum wage is the floor that we all walk on. We need bargaining rights. We need an NLRB that works. We need a decent trade policy. That package restores confidence, restores the consumer and builds our economy again.

Cohen added that if we leave the economy to the so-called "invisible hand," corporations will just lead us to a massive race to the bottom:

I'd say $10.10 is a minimum. We see L.A. move towards $15 an hour, thanks to the mayor there. We see Germany with an $11.60 minimum wage, Australia with $14. You know, when we talk about a global economy and we need to look up, not just down all the time.