Why Not Twenty Dollars? Pelosi And Hoyer Don’t Have An Answer On Minimum Wage

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer could not explain why a $15 minimum wage for all was best for workers after a conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

At a “Raise The Wage” event in the U.S. Capitol, Pelosi and Hoyer were joined by workers from across the country who believe a $15 minimum wage would help them and their families get out of poverty. Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and a few other members of congress were present at the event.

The legislation itself would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024. However, when asked about that specific number, both Pelosi and Hoyer did not seem interested in raising the amount, but would not say why.

The Daily Caller News Foundation asked Pelosi after the conference why she would not raise the minimum wage to $20 and why $15 would be such an effective number that would “benefit” the economy. Pelosi refused to answer and walked out of the room.

Hoyer, responded to the question from TheDCNF, saying “I’m interested in the deal there and the getting there and I think this is a bill that we can pass and get the votes. And that’s important.” When asked why not $20 or another amount, Hoyer walked away without responding.

WATCH: 

Pelosi arrives at a raise the minimum wage event in the U.S. Capitol. pic.twitter.com/TDG6w73oIi

— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) January 16, 2019

The Washington, D.C. city council voted to repeal an initiative that would have raised the minimum wage for all tipped employees in an 8-5 vote on Oct. 2 after continued pushback from workers across the nation’s capital.