But political momentum favors higher minimum wages, because low-wage workers are increasingly unable to survive on prolonged, lousy pay. The minimum wage in Missouri is $7.70 an hour; in Minnesota, small employers must pay $7.75 and large ones $9.50. To compare, one adult in St. Louis needs at least $10.42 an hour to meet basic living expenses; in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, one adult needs $11.36. The nationwide “Fight for $15” campaign has increased its state and local efforts, on the reasonable assumption that a raise in the federal minimum, now $7.25, is out of reach in a Trump administration.

Against that backdrop, the resistance of Republican state lawmakers to higher minimums and better benefits is likely to come at a higher political cost than in the past. The harder life gets and the more voices that are raised for change, the steeper the price for standing in the way.

That’s why 28 states have higher minimum wages than Missouri, and higher than what Minnesota’s small employers must pay. Eleven states even have higher minimums than the $9.50 that Minnesota imposes on large employers. Twelve states have ballot or legislative efforts underway to lift minimums to $12 or $15 an hour.

When states have been slow to enact increases, cities and counties have taken the initiative. Some 40 localities have minimums above their state’s level.

Republicans say they believe in local control, but preventing local wage increases contradicts that. And experience shows there are benefits from lifting local minimums, not only in higher wages, but in higher spending as well.