Think what Sen Ruderman said, that if we raise the wages to $15 the employees will stay in their job. What he is saying is that if we give these employees a raise they will be happy and not try to improve themselves.  Is that what we want? A populace that stagnates and gives up on any improvement. This is exactly what is wrong with the  Progressive Liberal Democrat Party. Give people enough to tolerate their situation via things such as minimum wage, welfare, food stamps, and they will vote for us because of what we give them. It doesn't matter that these programs stifle any ambition of improvement of self. I don't know where the Senator gets his information other than the DNC, but restaurants have been closing in Seattle and San Francisco. Fast food companies are replacing employees with kiosks for taking orders. The full effect is yet to happen. How about cutting taxes so people to keep more of what they make now? Raising minimum wage = higher tax revenue and union dues.