An idea for how to undercut GOP arguments against raising the minimum wage

[markpkessinger]

3. I agree $9 is far too low . . .

. . . But I wasn't talking about a negotiation with an employer here, nor was I advocating the proposed $9 minimum wage, per se, but was speaking more about the overall approach to whatever minimum wage increase might be proposed (since we know the GOP will fight it no matter how large or small it is), including providing government assistance (by way of either tax incentives or direct subsidies) to small businesses that could genuinely demonstrate that they could not afford to pay existing minimum wage employees at the higher rate, or who were avoiding hiring new employees because of the new higher rate (regardless of what that right might, in the end, be). As I said in my first post, I think this kind of approach genuinely helps struggling small businesses and minimum wage employees, AND provides stimulus to the economy, AND undermines a favorite GOP talking point and would put the GOP on the defensive.