The House of Representatives passed a minimum wage increase of $15/hour by the year 2025. The vote was 231-199 vote with six Democrats opposing it and three Republicans supporting it. It is not expected to pass the Mitch McConnell Republican controlled Senate if it even comes up for a vote.

The wage is phased in as follows: $8.40 in 2019, $9.50 in 2020, $10.60 in 2021, $11.70 in 2022, $12.80 in 2023, $13.90 in 2024 and $15 in 2025. After 2025 it is indexed to future increases in median wage gains.

The bill eventually abolishes the lower minimum wage for tipped workers and eliminates a seldom used pay floor for teen workers that pays them less than the minimum wage.

By reference, the current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour passed a decade ago. However, 29 states and Washington, D.C. have higher than the federal minimum wage, and seven of those have approved $15 per hour minimum wages.

I did a quick calculation of what the minimum wage in 1963 (my high school wage) would be today if it was indexed to inflation. My 1963 minimum wage of $1.25 per hour would be equivalent to $10.46 per hour in 2019. Then assuming a 3 percent inflation rate from now until 2025, the 1963 minimum wage indexed to inflation to the year 2025 would be $12.49 per hour.

Looking at the 1963 wage of $1.25 per hour another way, as mentioned before it is $10.46 per hour in 2019 adjusted for actual inflation, but the $15 per hour wage in 2025 would necessitate a 6.2 percent inflation between 2019 and 2025 to be equivalent to the 1963 minimum wage.

I'm sure no one is impressed with my calculations, but I like to throw them out anyway to put things in perspective.

Thoughts?

These are excepts from Trump's Cabinet meeting. Lots of people spoke, but I have extracted the contributions by Ben Carson.

https://factba.se/transcript/donald-trump-remarks-cabinet-meeting-july-16-2019

Trump: If you want to leave, that's your option. You can leave anytime you want, okay? Please, Ben.

Carson: Thank you, Mr. President. And just before I talk a little bit about what's going on at HUD, I just want to thank you for your incredible courage ---- and stamina and resilience with unwithering criticism, unfair criticism, all the time. And I would just, sort of, sum it up by saying: Would you rather have a non-politician whose speech is unfiltered, who gets a lot of stuff done? Or somebody with a silver tongue who gets nothing done?

Trump: But I thought I had a silver tongue. [Laughter] I heard that so often. I always thought I had a silver tongue. [Laughter] But I agree with you.

Carson: But, you know, as I told you before, I think God is using you.

Trump: Thank you very much.

Carson: I really appreciate that.

Trump: And you have said that, and I appreciate it. Thank you, Ben.

And blah, blah, blah...

Ben Carson is a survivor in Trump's Cabinet when so many others have been shown the door. This conversation highlights why Carson is here to stay...

Mueller has already said he will not go beyond what is written in his report. That would be okay. Very few people have actually read the report and many, particularly the Fox News viewers, have been indoctrinated on the Barr false interpretation. Yet there are some 10 paragraphs that are clear obstructions of justice by Trump, and if nothing else being asked to read those lines from the report should be a game changer for some Americans.

Yet the indoctrination is deep, and viewers will struggle with what "Mueller says" versus what "Barr said Mueller says". People believe what they want to believe, and they listen with filters on the ears. Still for many of the undecideds, the Mueller testimony could be compelling in swaying them over to "obstruction of justice" charges.

Arizona -- Yes Harris has taken a 2 point lead over Biden in the California Quinnipiac poll, but nationwide Biden still leads.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/2020_democratic_presidential_nomination-6730.html

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/ca/california_democratic_primary-6879.html

Watching MSNBC tonight, they have clips from 1992 of Trump and Epstein partying with a bunch of women cheerleaders at Mar-a-Lago. Both are eyeing and joking about potential "conquests".

Remember the 13 year old girl who accused Trump of raping her 1994? That case could resurface.

Separately, the New Mexico Attorney General is investigating Epstein's conduct at his secluded ranch in the boondocks of New Mexico.

And Vanity Fair supposedly is saying that bombshell revelations on a whole host of politicians, celebrities and a foreign Prime Minister will be exposed for their connections and/or participation in some of Epstein's parties.

And there are lots of questions: Where did Epstein get all his money?

With three hours of testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, it should be enough to get to the meat of the issues. Half the time will be taken up by Republicans on distractive issues as well as stalling tactics up front, so substantive discussion and questioning will occupy only 90 minutes or less.

I hope Chairman Nadler can coordinate the line of questioning by committee members to hit the key points early...and most importantly to get Mueller to read the charges of obstruction charges directly for maximum impact on the viewing audience. I expect Fox News to perhaps cut away when facts are presented.

And yes testimony by aides can be crucial to solidly hammer the nail into Trump's future coffin.

Rep Al Green's resolution to start the process of impeaching President Donald Trump was tabled Wednesday by a vote of 364-58. "Now is not the time."

Perhaps after hearing Robert Mueller's testimony next week (July 24), an initiative to the start the impeachment process will get new life. But then Congress leaves immediately (July 26th) on their summer holiday not returning until September 9th.

Nothing will happen until after September 9th when the House returns to work.