It's no secret that raising the minimum wage is a policy that's widely popular with Democratic and Republican voters alike. Even a large majority of businesses support raising the minimum wage, contrary to what business lobbyists like the Chamber of Commerce peddle in the halls of Congress.
That's because Americans understand it's not right when people put in long hours at work, sometimes at two or more jobs, but still can barely afford to get by. The public also doesn't fall for the myth of job loss that's always prophesied by big business lobbyists but that never comes true when the minimum wage goes up.
Faced with the reality of popular opinion, real-world economics, and sheer human decency, what are GOP politicians opposed to raising the federal minimum wage to do? They trot out one of their "greatest hits" talking points, of course—that this should be a matter for the states to decide. And look, they say, the states are taking care of it, pointing to successful campaigns in places like New York, California, and Oregon.