WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., predicted the Republican Party would win back control of the Senate in November and retain control of the House.

"I think it will be a good election year for us in the House, and I do also think that the Republicans will also do very well and take the Senate," he told Fox Business Network.


But he said most people aren't thinking about the midterm elections year.

"With the elections upcoming I think we've got to remember most people in the country aren't so focused on that," Cantor said. "They're focused on their own difficulties right now in getting through the month and making sure their job is there, and we want to stay focused on those issues.

"I do think there is a lot in this economy right now that isn't working for people," he continued. "The House Republicans are for an America that works."

The Democratic leadership did not comment on Cantor's remarks.

Republicans have a 17-seat advantage in the House and need to gain six seats in the Senate to win control of that chamber.

Cantor said he wanted to focus on "increasing paychecks through job growth and competition" but discounted a Democratic proposal to hike the minimum wage, a priority outlined in President Obama's State of the Union address and something Democrats are trying to push in the House.

Instead, he pushed a bill that would repeal an Affordable Care Act provision that defines a full-time employee for health-insurance purposes as working 30 hours or more a week.

Cantor said this would lead to lost hours and income.

"What that means is let's roll back the regulation under Obamacare which has taken the 40-hour workweek down to 30 hours," he said. "If you just restore that, you are adding 25 percent to the wage earner's paycheck.

"Those people making minimum wage who would benefit from that would almost be made equal to that which the president is calling for under his minimum wage hike," Cantor said.