Cenk Uygur Wages Relentless Campaign to Pressure Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders on Mandatory $15 Minimum Wage Into Covid Bill

Ken MeyerMar 3rd, 2021, 9:20 am
 

The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur is amping up pressure on both Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to continue the fight for a mandatory $15 minimum wage.

As Congress deliberates over a new coronavirus economic relief package, Sanders and Democrats have been pushing for the bill to include an increase in the minimum wage. The provision’s biggest obstacle lies in the fact that Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that the wage increase should be kept out of the Covid bill, and it might have to overcome a possible filibuster.

The White House will reportedly not try to pressure the parliamentarian’s decision, even though progressives in Congress are demanding its inclusion in the final package. Sanders has responded to the ruling by saying Democrats should “ignore” it, plus he told reporters he will force a vote on an amendment to raise the federal minimum wage this week.

“Given the enormous crises facing this country and the desperation of working families, we have got to as soon as possible end the filibuster,” he said. “We cannot have a minority of members define what the American people want.”

Uygur has been among the most prominent voices calling for a wage hike, and on Tuesday night, he thanked Sanders for his pledge to force a Senate vote on it. He went on by explaining that as Vice President and Presiding Chair of the Senate, Harris is the one with actual authority to decide whether or not the wage hike is included in the stimulus package.

“That’s good news because Kamala Harris has always said that a $15 minimum wage was among her top priorities,” Uygur said. “If it’s one of her top priorities and she complete and sole authority to put it in the bill, then there’s no reason why she wouldn’t put it in the bill.”

From there, Uygur directed his audience to a TYT petition while calling on the VP to fight for the minimum wage provision and “lift millions of people out of poverty.” He also urged his viewers to go on a social media blitz to gin up public support for the provision under the hashtag, #SaveUsKamala.

“If you believe and love and support Kamala Harris, great! Then you should help her get to one of her top priorities,” Uygur said.

After Uygur concluded the segment by discussing with co-host Ana Kasparian, he got on Twitter and got the ball rolling with his own social media charge.

Watch above, via The Young Turks.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!

Tags: