The Republican presidential hopefuls clashed over the idea of setting a national $15 minimum wage, kicking off Tuesday’sfourth presidential debate with most of them saying hiking the wage would backfire and actually chase lower-income people from the workforce.
“I hate to say it but we have to leave it the way it is,” said businessman Donald J. Trump, the leader in the polls, who said if taxes go higher and wages get hiked the U.S. will lose its competitive edge.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich sounded a dissonant note, saying that his state has hiked its minimum wage above the current federal level.
But Sen. Marco Rubio, who has been rising in recent polls, also rejected a minimum-wage hike, saying if businesses are required to pay higher wages, it will force them to turn toward more automation to save costs.
And retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said a minimum wage hike would hurt those trying to move beyond government assistance.
“I’m interested in making sure people are able to enter the job market and take advantage of job opportunities,” he said.
SEE ALSO: Chris Christie blasts Hillary Clinton big-government economic agenda in Republican debate
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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