Green Mountain Times

Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour over five years has been rejected with a final vote of 42–58.

The vote fell short of the required 60 votes to overrule Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough’s ruling that "the $15 minimum wage provision could not be enacted through a budget reconciliation process," according to The Epoch Times.

Sanders has earlier said that he will continue to fight for the proposal in case it will be rejected.

“If we fail in this legislation, I will be back. We’re going to keep going.”

He also told The Hill that the proposal will increase the federal minimum wage "from a starvation wage of $7.25 an hour to a living wage."

Several Democrats have joined the Republicans in objecting to Sander’s proposal, The Epoch Times reported.

Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Angus King (I-Vt.) have voted no along with the Republicans.

Sanders circled back to those in opposition challenging them their priorities.

“Are you on the side of the working people in America who desperately need a raise? Or are you on the side of the wealthy and the powerful who want to continue exploiting their workers and paying starvation wages?” the Vermont senator asked on the floor of the Senate. “It ain’t more complicated than that.”