The primary issues for the Republican Party are the denial of abortions and same-sex marriages – not raising the minimum salary, which will be voted on in November in Arizona.

David Lara, vice president of the Republican Party of Yuma, pointed out that, “It’s not that it does not interest us, we are just letting the voter decide, because everyone knows that our priorities are abortion and homosexual marriages.”

He added that another reason why the Party has not joined the minimum wage movement, spearheaded in Arizona by several social organizations and labor unions, is that it is being used as a political banner by the Democrats.

“There are six states presently considering the minimum wage increase issue where the Republican Party feels it can win a majority for Congress; therefore, the basic strategy is to let the voters decide.”

In his opinion, for Arizona, the benefit of an increase in salary for those workers who earn less than the minimum wage is not real. He argues that raising the minimum hourly wage from $5.15 to $6.25 may seem to represent and increase of $44 a week for the worker, but the gain would be lost when the cost of products go up: “That’s what people seem to forget.”

Besides, the $5.15 minimum wage is intended for students and people who work part time only.

Furthermore, he proposed the elimination of minimum wages so that employers could adjust salaries according to the demand for labor. It has been shown, Lara pointed out, that when there is a shortage of labor, employers raise salaries considerably.

Lara, who is also a merchant, admitted that there are businessmen who are against raising wages, particularly since it will affect micro enterprises.