Donalds: Raising Minimum Wage is not "COVID Relief"

Across the United States, there’s been an ongoing national conversation regarding raising the minimum wage. Floridians overwhelmingly approved raising the minimum wage in the 2020 general election. However, the conversation continues regarding whether or not it will have any negative implications on the economy  and on Americans while the country continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Twitter, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds (R) and Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D) engaged in a discussion regarding the effects of raising the minimum wage.

As lawmakers address how they should respond to the needs of Americans across the country, much of the conversation has been in regards to COVID relief. Jayapal admitted that “raising the minimum wage IS COVID relief,” which is a sentiment that her Democratic colleagues have also shared throughout the pandemic.

However, Rep. Donalds responded to her, arguing that raising the minimum wage is not “COVID relief” because it would cripple Americans during a time that Americans are looking to work.

“As a man of color with a degree in Business and nearly two decades in the banking and finance industries, I can tell you first-hand—you’re wrong,” Donalds explained.

Instead, Donalds argued that “the COVID ‘relief’ you’re spinning will negatively harm the people you claim to be helping.”

He went on to cite some further reasons as to why raising the minimum wage would negatively affect Americans, commenting that “low-waged workers will receive fewer hours,” “approximately 1.4M low-wage workers will lose their jobs,” “costs of good will increase, hurting seniors & those on fixed incomes,” and he mentioned that there would be “fewer jobs, decreased hours, more expensive goods & services.”

Ultimately, Donalds questioned “how is that COVID relief?”