*By Carlo Versano* Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) wants some credit for Amazon's new company-wide policy to hike its minimum wage to $15. The progressive congressman representing California's 17th district has [sponsored](https://cheddar.com/videos/rep-ro-khanna-to-amazon-pay-your-workers-a-living-wage) a House bill to complement Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) "Stop BEZOS Act." Khanna said Tuesday in an interview on Cheddar he thinks his legislation applied more pressure to Amazon ($AMZN), which was already under scrutiny for the working conditions of its factory employees. "It's a major, major victory," Khanna said. "I think \[Bezos\] has really set the bar." Amazon's wage hike will go into effect Nov. 1 for 350,000 full-time, part-time, and temporary employees. The company said it will also lobby Congress to increase the minimum wage at a federal level. To Khanna, whose district includes Silicon Valley, the move by Amazon ー based in Seattle ー will cause shockwaves and likely inspire other large corporations to act. "It's going to eviscerate the argument that you can't be profitable and pay $15 wages," he said. "If Amazon can do it, a lot of other companies can do it." Khanna also spoke about the federal government's injunction against California for its new net neutrality law. He said the position taken by the FCC and Chairman Ajit Pai undermines the concept of federalism, which Republicans claim to value. But the reality may be quite different. "There is no jurisdiction to take away from what the state is doing," he said. Pai filed suit soon after California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation establishing net neutrality protections for Californians over the weekend. Pai argued that the internet by its very nature constitutes interstate commerce and thus should be regulated federally. For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rep-ro-khanna-amazon-set-the-bar-by-raising-minimum-wage).

Share:
More In Business
GM Ending Production of Iconic Chevy Camaro in 2024
General Motors (GM) announced that it will stop production on the current sixth generation of the iconic Chevrolet Camaro. Production at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan is expected to end in January 2024.
FAA Launches Plan to Reduce Congestion at NYC Area Airports
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching a new plan to avoid flight delays in New York City and Washington, D.C. this summer. The plan will lower requirements for airlines to obtain take off and landing rights to help avoid congestion.
Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul Among Slew of Celebrities to Settle With SEC in Crypto Case
Actress Lindsay Lohan appears at the Christian Siriano Fall/Winter 2023 fashion show in New York, Feb. 9, 2023. The Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday, March 22, that Lohan, rapper Akon and several other celebrities have agreed to pay tens of thousands of dollars to settle claims that they promoted crypto investments to their millions of social media followers without disclosing they were being paid to do so.
The Day Ahead: TikTok CEO on Capitol Hill, More Earnings
Cheddar News breaks down what to look for on The Day Ahead, as TikTok CEO is scheduled to testify before Congress on Thursday while earnings from General Mills and Darden Restaurants are on tap. Residential sales data for February is also scheduled to be released.
Load More