VIDEO: All 3 Missouri GOP Senate Candidates Stumped When Asked To Identify The Minimum Wage
Three Missouri Republicans running to take on Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) in November were asked during a radio debate on KMOX what the federal minimum wage is and whether they would vote to increase it. None of the three knew what the minimum wage it, but all knew that they would vote against increasing it, regardless.
Host Charlie Brennan asked the three candidates — businessman John Brunner, former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, and Rep. Todd Akin — “What is the federal minimum wage? Would you vote to increase it?” Here are their responses to the first question:
BRENNAN: Okay, do you know what the minimum wage is?
BRUNNER: No sir.
BRENNAN: How about you Sarah Steelman?
STEELMAN: Uh…$7.50 an hour.
BRENNAN: Do you know what the minimum wage is?
AKIN: My guess is its somewhere in the 6 or 7, but I don’t know the exact number right now.
John Brunner is a businessman, Todd Akin was in Congress when the the current minimum wage was enacted, and Sarah Steelman was a State Treasurer. One would certainly expect any of them to at least have an idea what the minimum wage is (to be fair, Sarah Steelman was close).