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Some Republican lawmakers, particularly those facing tough re-election fights, want another chance to back an increase from the current $5.15 an hour, a move that would deprive Democrats of a major campaign talking point.

I've said it before, I'll say it again...

Index the stupid thing for inflation! If passing an increase one time will take away a Dim talking point, indexing it for inflation will take away Dim talking points FOREVER.

The minimum wage is a problem ONLY when it is above the normal wage rate for entry level jobs. (i.e. A minimum wage of $1/hr would be meaningless, a minimum wage of $100/hr would be total disaster.) At $5.15/hr, the thing is not a problem. Raising it $1/hr or $2/hr quickly could cause problems. Indexing it for inflation would raise it by about $0.15/hr every year. It is NOT a problem now, and indexing it for inflation would keep it from ever becoming a problem.

With the current system, political pressure builds every year until it finally reaches a critical mass and a BIG increase is passed. BIG increases cause problems for businesses who can't possible know when they are going to occur. Indexing the thing for inflation (like Congressional salaries and Social Security payments) would eliminate the political angle FOREVER.

I DO NOT LIKE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. But it won't be! It should be managed in such a way to 1) keep it from being a political weapon of the Dims, and 2) to keep it from harming the economy, businesses and workers.