McCaskill’s GOP challengers trip on minimum-wage query

Former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman came closest, guessing $7.50 per hour and adding that she was not in favor of raising it.

“I think it’s high enough as it is,” she said.

Akin said it was “destructive and disruptive” for the government to interfere in the market by mandating what employers must pay.

“I don’t think the government should be setting prices on wages in any way, shape or form,” he said.

{mosads}Democrats pounced, accusing the candidates of attacking working families and pointing to the candidates’ personal wealth as evidence they are out of touch with the middle class.

“How out of touch can these guys possibly be that they don’t know the minimum wage, but insist it’s still too high?” said Missouri Democratic Party spokeswoman Caitlin Legacki.

Brunner campaign manager Jon Seaton said Brunner, who has made his family’s health-products business the centerpiece of his campaign, had demonstrated his superior real-world experience in the debate.

“Fact: [Brunner] paid employees more than minimum wage as he created over a thousand good-paying jobs in manufacturing,” Seaton wrote on Twitter.

The debate came the same day as a new poll by Republican firm Rasmussen showing all three candidates beating McCaskill, with Steelman holding the widest lead. Other polls in the race had shown McCaskill in a dead heat with the GOP candidates.

The Hill rates this race as a toss-up.




– This post was updated at 5:52 p.m.