Reps. Tim Ryan & Kendrick Meek on the Minimum Wage Increase

Working full time, a minimum wage worker brings home only $10,712 a year, nearly $6,000 below the poverty level for a family of three. Today, minimum wage workers will see the first federal pay increase in a decade. Raising the minimum wage means a $4,400 yearly pay raise—money that could pay for 15 months of groceries, or more than two years of health care. It could buy 19 months of utilities, 20 months of child care, or 30 months of college tuition at a public, 2-year college.

Over the next two years, the minimum wage will increase from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 per hour. Thanks to this increase, in 2009 a family of four will move from 11 percent below the poverty line to 5 percent above the poverty line. Nearly 13 million people will benefit from the increase. (more)

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• Meek
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[judyleasugar97]

Compared to the way things were in the 60s, minimum wage adjusted for inflation should be $15 an hour. That means people are being paid HALF what they should be. And Republicans didn't even want to raise it to $7.50 . . .

[SuperTubbyTube]

stop sayin "ummm" every few words Meek.

[zed4785]

thanks guys!

[witzkeyman]

thank you sirs! this is big!

[CajunDeLyte]

I'm second too!!!!  :o)~~~~~

[CajunDeLyte]

First!!!! Now can we haul Michael Vick in before a Congressional Committee Hearing on "ritual dog abuse"???