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CBO Report: Democrats' Minimum Wage Bill Would Cost 3.7 Million Jobs

July 8, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored House Democrats' $15-an-hour minimum wage proposal and found it would eliminate up to 3.7 million jobs:

"This report conclusively states that the Democrats' latest ‘solution' for American workers will put up to an estimated 3.7 million of those workers out of a job and will be devastating for our economy. We just saw an extremely strong June jobs report that included 224,000 new jobs and 3.1% wage growth, thanks to the work of President Trump and Congressional Republicans to cut taxes and eliminate bureaucratic red tape. Why are Democrats so determined to reverse our progress and hurt American workers? This $15-an-hour number was picked out of thin air and is not supported by any reasonable economic analysis. After this disastrous report, House Democrats cannot in good conscience bring the Raise the Wage Act to the floor. It would be unforgivable for Democrats to put their liberal, socialist agenda over the 3.7 million workers who will be out of a job due to this reckless bill."