Democrat Congressman: ‘We Don’t Want Low-Wage’ Small Businesses

Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna (CA) told CNN’s Abby Phillip on Sunday that Democrats “don’t want low-wage” small businesses after she asked him if their $15 minimum wage plan would apply to “mom and pop businesses who are just struggling to keep their doors open.”

“Well, of course, large businesses like Amazon and McDonald’s, for example, can and perhaps should pay more, but I’m wondering what is your plan for smaller businesses?” Phillip asked. “How does this in your view affect mom and pop businesses who are just struggling to keep their doors open, keep workers on the payroll right now?”

“Well, they shouldn’t be doing it by paying people low wages,” Khanna said. “We don’t want low-wage businesses. I think most successful small businesses can pay a fair wage.”

“If you look at the minimum wage it increased with worker productivity until 1968 and that relationship was severed. If workers were actually getting paid for the value they were creating it would be up to $23,” he claimed. “I love small businesses. I’m all for it. But I don’t want small businesses that are underpaying employees. It’s fair for people to be making what they’re producing and I think $15 is very reasonable in this country.”

The $15 minimum wage that Khanna and other Democrats are endorsing would achieve their goal of destroying small businesses that are unable to pay it. According to the Congressional Budget Office, a federal minimum wage increase to $15 dollars an hour would result in 3.7 million job losses.