Far-left congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-5) introduced the “Raise the Wage” bill on Wednesday, which would gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour by 2028. After then, the wage would increase based on inflation rates. Bill co-sponsors include Betty McCollum (MN-4) and fake moderate Angie Craig (MN-2).

This proposal does not have a bill number as of writing, but you can read the language here.

Gone are the “fight for 15” days, when Democrats pushed for a minimum wage of $15/hour. Now, the argument starts at $17/hour. Some Democrats even argue that the minimum wage must start at $25/hour.

$25/hour minimum wage.

— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) February 8, 2023

The minimum wage debate should have been long dead and buried in post-lockdown America. With the workers shortage lingering on, most retail employers have been forced to raise wages to meet with market demand. According to Statista, the average wage for retail employees ages 16 and older is over $23/hr. 

Do let that stat fool you, though. Raising the minimum wage across the board would still hurt small businesses and employers in states where costs are lower. When you look at small-town America, the cost of living is far cheaper than the big cities. For example, workers in California pay 74.6% more for housing than workers in Kansas do.

Small-town America will feel the most pain with this minimum wage increase. With Congresswoman Angie Craig representing the greater Twin Cities suburbs, you would think she would know that. Ilhan Omar, to be fair, should also know better – but her constituency is probably begging for more legislation like this.