Pelosi Calls On Congress To Approve Federal Minimum Wage Increase
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on Congress to approve an increase in the federal minimum wage at the Golden Gate Club in San Francisco's Presidio on Sunday.
The San Francisco Democrat is also seeking an extension in jobless benefits as she laid out her party's main thrust going into the mid-term election.
"The things we have to do is to create more jobs and more opportunity. We have to raise the minimum wage and that is part of the fight that we have," Pelosi said.
So far Republicans in Congress are resistant to an increase in the minimum wage fearing it will hurt business and reduce jobs.
The former House Speaker said her agenda doesn't stop there.
"We must expand, extend unemployment benefits. It's an immorality. It's just not fair that we have not expanded unemployment benefits in our country,"
An hourly wage bill may head to the Senate this week and on to the House where the bill's prospects are said to be dim.
(Copyright 2014 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)