California legislators clashed during a U.S. Senate debate regarding the proposed increase in the federal minimum wage in response to the nationwide affordability crisis.
The most striking proposal during the February 12 debate came from Democrat Rep. Barbara Lee, who advocated for raising the federal minimum wage to $50 per hour. This amount is nearly seven times the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and more than three times California’s minimum wage of $16 per hour.
Drawing on her experience as a former small business owner, Lee emphasized the importance of ensuring employees receive a living wage. She referenced a United Way report stating that a family of four in the San Francisco Bay Area would require $127,000 annually to meet basic needs.
Lee challenged critics to “do the math,” asserting the need to raise national minimum wages to provide a living wage. However, if the minimum wage were increased to $50, it would result in an annual income of around $104,000, still falling short of the median income in certain high-cost areas of California.
Using 2023 data from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Lee highlighted that an income of $104,000 would be considered low income for individuals living alone in San Francisco, San Mateo, or Marin counties.
She attributed the struggle for a six-figure income to the “affordability crisis” plaguing these areas, which are among the top 10 most expensive counties in the U.S. for housing.
Despite Lee’s proposal, not all Senate candidates seeking to replace the late Dianne Feinstein agreed on the need for such a significant minimum wage increase. Former MLB star Steve Garvey, a Republican, argued that the minimum wage is appropriately set and referenced the recently enacted fast-food law in California, which will raise wages to $20 per hour starting April 1, 2024.
In response, Democrat Rep. Adam Smith argued that poverty wages contribute to homelessness, advocating for higher incomes, increased affordable housing, and supportive services as a comprehensive solution.