Gasoline prices are not the only things rising right now - food and many other necessities of life are becoming more expensive, as well. Most people are struggling to make ends meeting right now. But for working people whose incomes are not large to begin with, it can be crushing.
That is why raising the minimum wage is so important.
This is why I voted with most other legislators to approve House Bill 5105. This legislation raised the minimum wage twice: once by 35 cents, to $8/hour on January 1, 2009 and a second time a year later, on January 1, 2010, by another 24 cents.
Even these increases are very small. They are not even enough to keep a worker at minimum wage up with the rising cost of living, as measured by the inflation rate. This is especially true since, because there was no raise in the minimum wage in 2008, it will have been two years since the minimum was increased.
That is why I was so surprised that the Governor vetoed HB5105. I strongly disagreed with her decision, it is very clear to me that her reasons have little or no merit.
Even though prices have been going up dramatically, the last increase in the minimum wage was a year and half ago. That is why I voted in the legislature to approve to raise the minimum wage. 08-92
Fortunately, the legislature came back again in special session and voted to override the Governor's veto, making HB5105 law - Public Act 08-92.
Even after these increases, the minimum wage is not nearly high enough to allow workers to provide for themselves or their families. That was all the more reason why we could not allow the rising cost of living to cut even further into the family budget of people who are struggling to work for a living.
That is why raising the minimum wage is so important.
This is why I voted with most other legislators to approve House Bill 5105. This legislation raised the minimum wage twice: once by 35 cents, to $8/hour on January 1, 2009 and a second time a year later, on January 1, 2010, by another 24 cents.
Even these increases are very small. They are not even enough to keep a worker at minimum wage up with the rising cost of living, as measured by the inflation rate. This is especially true since, because there was no raise in the minimum wage in 2008, it will have been two years since the minimum was increased.
That is why I was so surprised that the Governor vetoed HB5105. I strongly disagreed with her decision, it is very clear to me that her reasons have little or no merit.
Even though prices have been going up dramatically, the last increase in the minimum wage was a year and half ago. That is why I voted in the legislature to approve to raise the minimum wage. 08-92
Fortunately, the legislature came back again in special session and voted to override the Governor's veto, making HB5105 law - Public Act 08-92.
Even after these increases, the minimum wage is not nearly high enough to allow workers to provide for themselves or their families. That was all the more reason why we could not allow the rising cost of living to cut even further into the family budget of people who are struggling to work for a living.
