Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley want a $15 minimum wage. Hillary Clinton suggests $12.

Martin O'Malley
(Image credit: Getty Images)

At the Democratic debate in Iowa on Saturday night, Bernie Sanders defended his proposal to increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15, saying we need to "put money in the hands of working people."

Martin O'Malley jumped in to highlight his governorship in Maryland, where he raised the minimum wage to $10.10, and also said he supported a $15 federal minimum wage. Hillary Clinton, not so much.

"If you go to $12 it would be the highest historical average we've ever had," Clinton said, expressing skepticism about going higher.

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O'Malley countered: "It should always be going up. [...] We need to stop taking advice from economists on Wall Street."

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Stephanie is an editorial assistant at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Modern Luxury Media.