American workers deserve a raise | Minimum Wage Still Key Issue

The Minimum Wage Remains a Key Issue
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Tomorrow (July 24), the federal minimum wage will increase from $5.85 to $6.55, providing a much-needed raise to millions of American workers. Democrats in Congress enacted that legislation last year—despite strong objections from George Bush, John McCain, and their political allies—because Americans supported the minimum-wage increase by a margin of 6 to 1. Tomorrow is a good day to remind our fellow citizens that we’re on their side while the right wing fights against the interests of American workers. Let’s tout last year’s victory. But let’s also remind Americans that the job isn’t done—we need a minimum-wage solution that works for the long term.

* The minimum-wage increase enacted last year was a great victory for progressives and for millions of working Americans. In 2007, Democrats in Congress overcame furious right-wing opposition to increase the federal minimum wage in three steps—to $5.85 on June 24, 2007, to $6.55 on June 24, 2008, and to $7.25 on June 24, 2009.

* Nonetheless, the new minimum wage of $6.55 an hour still leaves millions of hard-working Americans in poverty. A worker employed full time at the new minimum wage still earns only about $13,600 per year—$4,000 below the federal poverty line for a family of three and $7,600 below poverty for a family of four. Even after the next wage increase to $7.25, a family of three will remain about $3,000 below the poverty line, and a family of four will be more than $6,000 below it.

* American workers deserve a raise—and it will also stimulate the economy. We must support minimum wage workers in their climb to financial security by ensuring that the wages they earn are fair. At the same time, economists agree that one of the best strategies for promoting growth during an economic downturn like the current one is to invest in workers at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Progressive solutions:

Barack Obama will increase the minimum wage and index it to the rate of inflation. If we were to restore the minimum wage to about 50 percent of the average wage for non-supervisory production employees, that would put it at approximately $8.40 an hour, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
For much more on the minimum wage, including key facts, talking points, the progressive solution, and links to additional resources, click here to visit the Making Sense 2008 website.

About This Email
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This is the thirteenth of CAF's Making Sense 2008 emails. We're sending brief talking points to our progressive allies throughout 2008 regarding kitchen table economic issues. Please feel free to share these with your colleagues. They can subscribe to our Making Sense 2008 email list here: http://ga3.org/caf/making_sense_2008_email_signup.html

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