Benjamin: Compared to when he proposed it in the past, Senator Hawley’s $15 minimum wage would do less to raise unemployment but also less to help those who benefit from the higher wage. Fifteen dollars today buys roughly what $12.35 bought in January 2021. So he is asking for less than he used to want.

The fact that he links the issue to illegal immigration makes it odd that he has never co-sponsored legislation that pairs a higher minimum wage with mandatory E-Verify. Other Republicans have proposed that in the recent past, albeit with a smaller increase in the minimum wage.