Research Links and Discussion Questions for March 2021 Topics

Feb 16, 2021 | Ideas For Teachers

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Minimum Wage
Congress.gov: H.R.603, “Raise the Wage Act of 2021”                https://bit.ly/3rJJwgC
U.S. Department of Labor: “Minimum Wage”                        https://bit.ly/3rVLUkP
Congressional Budget Office: “Budgetary Effects Raise the Wage Act of 2021”    https://bit.ly/371TmCA
National Congress of State Legislatures: “State Minimum Wages”            https://bit.ly/3p6PVAN
UC Berkeley Labor Center: “The Public Cost of a Low Federal Minimum Wage”    https://bit.ly/2MOQ1QK
raisetheminimumwage.com: “Raise the Minimum Wage News”            https://bit.ly/3pfBdaF

Issue 2: Keystone XL Pipeline
White House: “Executive Order Protecting Public Health and Environment”    https://bit.ly/3qfqTAX
National Resources Defense Council: “What is Keystone Pipeline?”        https://on.nrdc.org/3acrOg6
TC Energy: “Keystone XL” (from the company that owns the pipeline)        https://www.keystonexl.com
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute: “Background Keystone XL”    https://bit.ly/2ZaixOY
The Guardian: “Biden Can Be Our Climate President by Ending Pipeline Projects”    https://bit.ly/3tMnGLt
Fox News: “Manchin Pens Letter Asking Biden to Reverse Pipeline Termination”    https://fxn.ws/3tHtjdI

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Minimum Wage

  1. Do you support or oppose raising the minimum wage? If you were speaking to a person who disagreed, what is the strongest argument in support of your position?
  2. If you were a business owner, would you want the minimum wage to increase? Why or why not?
  3. What are two arguments against raising the minimum wage? What are two arguments in favor of raising the minimum wage?
  4. How is a minimum-wage worker’s life changed as a result of lifting the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour?
  5. Places like New York, Oakland, San Francisco and Seattle have raised the minimum wage in their cities. Why do you think these places have raised their municipal minimum wage?

Issue 2: Keystone XL Pipeline

  1. What are some potential benefits of the pipeline? How about potential drawbacks?
  2. In what ways does the decision we make today about the Keystone XL Pipeline affect people in the future?
  3. The Biden administration cancelled construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, but the Trump administration supported it. What might account for such differing views on construction of the pipeline?
  4. What are some of the reasons that environmentalists oppose the Keystone XL pipeline expansion?
  5. Do you think that addressing climate change is an issue that should be prioritized over creating jobs? Are these options mutually exclusive?