RESEARCH LINKS
THE PUSH TO RAISE THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE comes up nearly every year in congress—with Democrats typically for it and Republicans against it.
Issue 1: Minimum Wage
House.gov: “Raise the Wage Act of 2025” Bill Text
Economic Policy Institute: “Impact of the Raise the Wage Act of 2025”
Heritage Foundation: “Increasing the Minimum Wage Comes at Too High a Price”
National Employment Law Project: “Why Every Job Should Pay a Living Wage”
Wharton/University of PA: “Why Raising the Minimum Wage Has Long-term Costs”
Investopedia.com: “What Are the Pros and Cons of Raising the Minimum Wage?”
Issue 2: Voter Registration (SAVE Act)
Congress.gov: H.R.22 “The SAVE Act”
House.gov: “Rep. Roy Introduces Bill to Protect the Integrity of American Elections”
Center for American Progress: “The SAVE Act Would Disenfranchise Citizens”
House.gov: “SAVE Act Fact Sheet”
National Education Association: “NEA Urges House to Vote No on the SAVE Act”
National Conference of State Legislatures: “9 Things to Know About the SAVE Act”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Issue 1: Minimum Wage
- Would an increase in the minimum wage boost consumer spending and economic growth? Why or why not?
- What are the potential negative effects of raising the federal minimum wage? Examples might include inflation, price increases, and/or jobs loss or reduced hours. Would any negative effects outweigh the positives? Why or why not?
- Imagine you are a business owner who employs workers at the current minimum wage. How might you respond to a minimum wage increase? Would you raise prices, reduce staff, or find ways to increase efficiency?
- What are the potential social benefits of raising the minimum wage, such as reduced poverty and crime?
- Is the minimum wage best addressed on a national or state level, and why?
Issue 2: Voter Registration (SAVE Act)
- If passed, the SAVE Act would require American citizens to produce documents like a passport or birth certificate to register to vote. Do you feel this measure would strengthen or weaken Americans’ voting rights? Why?
- Opponents of the SAVE Act say it is an example of congress using its authority to create needless obstacles for voters. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- The SAVE Act would upend Americans’ access to mail-in and online voter registration. How might this measure negatively impact people who live in rural areas?
- Proponents of the SAVE Act say it will preserve and strengthen the “integrity and sanctity” of U.S. elections. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- Should ballot access and voting rights be a partisan issue? Why or why not?