Clinton, O'Malley spar over minimum wage.

[elleng]

'Democratic presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Martin O'Malley sparred Saturday over their proposals to raise wages for the nation's lowest earners.

Moderators at the Democratic debate asked the candidates about their plans to raise the minimum wage. O'Malley, Maryland's former governor, said his state raised wages, calling it "not merely a theory."

"Not only were we the first state in the nation to pass a living wage, we were the first state in the nation to pass a minimum wage," said O'Malley, who supports a $15 per hour minimum wage.

Clinton, a former secretary of state, said the minimum wage should be increased to $12 an hour.

"I do believe that is minimum and places like Seattle and Los Angeles and New York, they can go higher … I think that is the smartest way to be able to move forward because if you go to $12 it would be the highest historical average we’ve ever had," said Clinton, citing Princeton economist Alan Krueger.

That position drew O'Malley's ire and for a few seconds, the former governor and Clinton attempted to talk over one another.

"I think we need to stop taking advice from economists on Wall Street," O'Malley quipped.'

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/11/14/clinton-omalley-spar-over-minimum-wage/75706950/

[virtualobserver]

1. this is the O'Malley I expected in the first debate