Politics & Government

Rep. Bill Young on Minimum Wage Hike: 'Get a Job'

The Republican congressman from Pinellas County's answer to a question about raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour has gone viral on YouTube.

A local Republican congressman's response to a question about the proposed minimum wage hike has gone viral on YouTube.

Rep. C.W. Bill Young, of Indian Shores, whose District 10 includes most of Pinellas County, was asked earlier this week by a constituent whether he supported the proposed increase.

The exchange, which was captured on video, was first highlighted by FLDemocracy and also reported by The Huffington Post:

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"Jesse Jackson Jr. is passing a bill around to increase the minimum wage to 10 bucks an hour. Would you support that?" said the voter. 

"Probably not," replied Young, adding, "How about getting a job?"

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The young man has a job, as he told the congressman: "I do have one." He said he makes $8.50 an hour.

"Well then, why do you want that benefit? Get a job," reiterated Young.

The YouTube video of the exchange had more than 25,000 views as of 8 a.m. Friday.

Florida's minimum wage pays $7.67 an hour, slightly above the federal level of $7.25, the Huffington Post reports.

"Rep. Jackson (D-Ill.) and 17 other House Democrats recently proposed legislation that would raise the federal minimum to $10 an hour," according to the news site.

Young's office did not return a Huffington Post request for comment.

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