2008 Woodie Awards
Democrats to push for increased minimum wage
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: News
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(U-WIRE) BATON ROUGE, La. -- The Democratic Party's majority takeover in the Congressional election earlier this month may also be a victory for low-income
workers and college students in the near future.
Among fixing issues surrounding college affordability for low-income students and providing adequate health care, raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 is a top priority for the new Democratic Senate.
Minimum wage has been a stagnant factor of the American economy for more than eight years, staying at a constant rate of $5.15 since 1997. A minimum wage worker who works full time at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year earns $10,700 annually, which is almost $6,000 below the federal line of poverty guidelines of $16,600 for a family of three.
But Sen. Edward Kennedy, who has been fighting for years to pass an increased minimum wage, said it is time to for working-class Americans to reach new economic heights -- ones that will eventually
help them escape poverty.
"America has spoken, and the new Congress will listen," Kennedy said in a news release. "If there's one message from this election that emerged loud and clear on a domestic issue, it's minimum wage. No one who works for a living should have to live in poverty."
If the bill is passed early next year, the rate is set to increase gradually, Kennedy said.
It will rise to $5.85 within 60 days after enactment, to $6.55 one year later and to $7.25 one year after that.
According to the Center for Budget Priorities, nearly 15 million Americans would benefit from a minimum wage increase to $7.25 an hour.
The bill has faced tough opposition in the past by Republicans, who held the majority in Congress before this election. And the
Republicans have received criticism because Congress continues to get raises while the low-income workers have not received a minimum wage raise in more than eight years.
According to a press release from Kennedy's office, Congress has voted itself seven pay raises since 1997. The Senate raised its pay
workers and college students in the near future.
Among fixing issues surrounding college affordability for low-income students and providing adequate health care, raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 is a top priority for the new Democratic Senate.
Minimum wage has been a stagnant factor of the American economy for more than eight years, staying at a constant rate of $5.15 since 1997. A minimum wage worker who works full time at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year earns $10,700 annually, which is almost $6,000 below the federal line of poverty guidelines of $16,600 for a family of three.
But Sen. Edward Kennedy, who has been fighting for years to pass an increased minimum wage, said it is time to for working-class Americans to reach new economic heights -- ones that will eventually
help them escape poverty.
"America has spoken, and the new Congress will listen," Kennedy said in a news release. "If there's one message from this election that emerged loud and clear on a domestic issue, it's minimum wage. No one who works for a living should have to live in poverty."
If the bill is passed early next year, the rate is set to increase gradually, Kennedy said.
It will rise to $5.85 within 60 days after enactment, to $6.55 one year later and to $7.25 one year after that.
According to the Center for Budget Priorities, nearly 15 million Americans would benefit from a minimum wage increase to $7.25 an hour.
The bill has faced tough opposition in the past by Republicans, who held the majority in Congress before this election. And the
Republicans have received criticism because Congress continues to get raises while the low-income workers have not received a minimum wage raise in more than eight years.
According to a press release from Kennedy's office, Congress has voted itself seven pay raises since 1997. The Senate raised its pay
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