bernie sanders

Bernie Sanders Seeks To Raise Minimum Wage to $17

by

The federal minimum wage in the United States has been set at $7.25 since 2009. While states are allowed to offer a high minimum wage than this, 20 states abide by the federal minimum. The highest minimum wage currently available in the United States can be found in Washington DC. Currently, the nation’s capital has a minimum wage of $16.50.

There have been many attempts to raise the minimum wage since it was set 14 years ago. However, the proposals have been overwhelmingly rejected by bipartisan efforts. Congress, whose members make a salary of $174,000 a year, argues that there are too many severe economic consequences in raising the minimum. While many of these arguments have been debunked by economists, the Congressional view persists. This is joined by a public sentiment that primarily stems from discriminatory views of labor. A common argument heard in the discussion of raising the minimum wage is “Why should a burger flipper at McDonald’s make $15 an hour?”

Bernie Leads New Charge To Raise The Minimum Wage

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 04: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks at a press conference on raising the federal minimum wage outside the U.S. Capitol Building May 04, 2023 in Washington, DC. During his remarks Sanders announced that he would be introducing a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The last effort to raise the minimum wage came in 2021 with the Bernie Sanders-led “Raise the Wage Act”. That bill was killed in both houses, including seeing 8 Democrat senators vote against the legislation. But Bernie is undeterred and is once again pushing to raise the minimum wage. “Nobody in this country can survive on $7.25. And maybe some of my colleagues in Congress might want to live for a month on seven-and-a-quarter and see what that’s like,” Sanders said.

Sanders’ new proposal would go beyond his former proposal, instead raising the minimum wage to $17. However, even this might not be enough to actually tackle the crisis Sanders is trying to find a solution to. According to economists and economic forecasting, if the minimum wage had risen with inflation over the last four years, it should currently be around $25 an hour. Despite this, it remains to be seen if Sanders has the votes to push through the legislation. Unlike in 2021, the House is now controlled by the Republican party, and the Senate is essentially Republican-controlled, thanks to the prolonged absence of Democrat Senator Diane Feinstein.

Bernie Sanders Assists Minnesota State Rep On Her “CAPITOLIO” EP: Stream

by

Is Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders making his rap debut? Technically, no, though he does make an uplifting appearance on Maria Isa’s new CAPITOLO EP. The project arrived on Friday (January 6), and kicks off with a heartwarming (albeit explicit) conversation between the two politicians.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during the COVID Federal Response Hearing on Capitol Hill on June 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. The hearing was held to examine and update the ongoing Federal response to COVID-19, focusing on current status and future planning. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

As HipHopDX reports, the Minnesota State Representative’s new project comes as a reminder to her fans that she’s not done with rap. Even with a successful career in politics, she still knows how to throw down over a beat.

“Of course I’m going to keep making my music — that’s where I get my energy,” Isa previously told The Star Tribune.

Across eight different tracks, the multihyphenate expertly fuses Latin, Caribbean, reggaeton, and finally, hip-hop vibes. “I had been working on it from the first day I was running for the House, and it’s been a part of my campaign trail the whole way,” she dished to the same outlet.

“Music is medication, and we can certainly use that medication in politics right now.”

In the past, other rappers have markedly used their platforms to promote Sanders. Most notably, Killer Mike was once accused of accepting money in exchange for his support.

“Keep it really real. I accept NO MONEY from any politician. I am already rich,” the Run The Jewels member later expertly clapped back.

Stream Maria Isa’s CAPITOLIO EP on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, find more new music suggestions on our weekly R&B Season playlist update here.

CAPITOLIO Tracklist:

  1. Tío Bernie
  2. Coco
  3. My Love
  4. 1st Class Flights
  5. Bad Chicks
  6. Lo Que Necesitas
  7. Hello to the Weekend
  8. Nena

[Via] [Via]

Rap God Bernie Sanders Appears On A New Hip-Hop Album From Minnesota State Representative Maria Isa

by

Bernie Sanders ran for both the senate and president… Now, the politician is coming for another title that might surprise people: musician. Sanders appears on a new album by Minnesota House representative Maria Isa Pérez-Vega.

Pérez-Vega, after being sworn into office this week, dropped her new EP, Capitolio, to celebrate. Sanders appears on the opening title track, aptly titled “Tío Bernie.”

“People will respond to you a lot more than these ninety-year-old guys,” he is recorded saying on the song. While it’s not exactly a verse but a 0:44 recording, he does offer Pérez-Vega some sage advice.

“Don’t be afraid,” he adds. “If somebody says something to you, ‘Young lady, this is not good decorum’… Tell them to go f*ck themselves.”

She, and presumably the rest of the group burst out laughing. “Can I give you a hug man?” she responds.

As for the rest of Pérez-Vega’s new EP, it includes eight total songs (including Sanders’ intro) that range from Latin to hip-hop influences.

“Of course I’m going to keep making my music — that’s where I get my energy,” Pérez-Vega told The Star Tribune.

“I had been working on it from the first day I was running for the House, and it’s been a part of my campaign trail the whole way,” she added to the Tribune. “Music is medication, and we can certainly use that medication in politics right now.”

Check out Maria Isa Pérez-Vega’s song, “Tío Bernie,” above.

Machine Gun Kelly Explains How Bernie Sanders Once Helped Him Score Points With Megan Fox

by
Getty Image

Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox’s relationship recently made headlines when the musician revealed he walks around sporting a necklace filled with Fox’s blood. Fox had previously categorized the “intensity” of their relationship as “like being in love with a tsunami or a forest fire,” which apparently means it’s going well. Recently, Kelly credited the success of his relationship to an unlikely source — Bernie Sanders.

Kelly sat down for a conversation on The Ellen DeGeneres Show this week where he talked about his romance with Fox. He described how Fox jetted off to Bulgaria at the onset of their relationship (hence leaving him with the blood necklace) and the musician desperately wanted to visit her. The problem was that he didn’t have a passport. However, Sanders’ team reportedly came to the rescue, securing Kelly’s passport and ultimately helping the two carry on with their “powerful” romance:

“She was actually going out of town to film a movie, this was really early in our relationship. I didn’t have a passport either, so she was going out to Bulgaria. I was kind of freaking out like, ‘Oh, you’re going to leave and I can’t even come see you.’ Some people give a handkerchief to their partner — she gave me her DNA. […] You know who helped me get a passport? Bernie Sanders. I haven’t even talked to him since this happened. Thank you to the Bernie Sanders team for that. I made it to Bulgaria and the relationship is going strong, so thank you so much.”

Watch Kelly’s conversation on Ellen above.