Increase In the Minimum Wage an Early Benefit of Democratic Takeover

As we noted in our post-election breakdown, the Democrats takeover of both the House and Senate was not the only thing to celebrate on November 7. Six states also passed minimum wage laws ballot measures on that eventful day.

However, an increase in the federal minimum wage law is still necessary, and Democrats have made it clear that they will be wasting no time getting moving on that issue when the take control in January. This is a progressive idea that we've been behind since the beginning of this site, and we're incredibly happy that it's going to get done.

Although Bush will most likely have to go along with this, we will no doubt hear some moaning from "pro-business" groups about how an increase in the minimum wage will actually hurt workers. Unfortunately for them, this theory has been disproven in the past, and even the WSJ has had to admit, albeit begrudgingly, that a minimum wage increase isn't the bogeyman it's made out to be by those on the right.

As the Democrats begin to assert themselves and their newfound power, there are other issues that are bound to be more contentious than this one. However, increasing the minimum wage is an important first step in the progressive movement's push to make America a better place for everybody.