Democrats campaign on the slogan “America needs a raise!” but their bid to hike the minimum wage would hurt the chances of income growth for the middle class.

Nearly 80 percent of all workers already get more than $10.10 an hour, so a government mandated boost for those earning less, would do nothing for the great majority of workers. With business required to increase payments to new-hires and part-timers—the majority of minimum wagers—it means less money for salary boosts for more experienced, productive workers. Government mandates to lift minimum the minimum wage focus on employees who are the least deserving of higher pay, ignoring those who’ve toiled for years.

They also hurt the neediest people in the economy: the chronically unemployed. A worker who can’t find a job at $7.25 will have an even harder time getting work when every job must pay at least $10.10.