States say $5.15 an hour too little

[FreedomAngel82]

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20050531/pl_usatoday/statessay515anhourtoolittle

Snip: <

By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY Tue May 31, 6:41 AM ET

More states are raising their minimum wages, pushing hourly rates above $7 in some and shrinking the role of the federal minimum wage, which hasn't gone up in eight years. Eleven states have raised their rates since January 2004, and Wisconsin will become the 12th on Wednesday. Employers there must pay at least $5.70 an hour through June 2006, when the minimum wage rises again to $6.50 an hour.

In all, 17 states and the District of Columbia - covering 45% of the U.S. population - have set minimums above the federal rate of $5.15. That has helped cut the number of workers earning the minimum or less (for those earning tips) from 4.8 million in 1997 to 2 million last year, or 2.7% of hourly earners, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says.

About half of minimum-wage earners work at restaurants. Millions more have wages that are influenced by the minimum. Its buying power is at its lowest point since 1949. >

[tyedyeto]

1. Not going to happen in Arizona.....

and tipped employees make much less. They can earn as little as $2.25/hour. Repugs here think inflation will set in if there is an increase in the minimum wage. It's also the state that the legislature thought it would be a good idea for bar patrons to carry guns. Fortunately, Gov. Napolitano vetoed that bill.

[Jamison]

5. Not in Missouri either

If you asked Governor Blunt if $5.15/hr. is enough, he'd tell you it's WAY too much and is hurting business in Missouri.:mad:

[rucky]

maybe the governor should try and live off of that wage for awhile

eom

[noahmijo]

2. Yea I wonder what the thugs in Arizona will say about this

Gawddamn boy! nobody werkin honestly no more! they just want the extra dollar an hour to feed their drug habits that's it! well sheeit ah ain't gonna help feed no more illegal aliens cause that's the real problem rat there!! no scuse me while I finalize that fake social security for mah Mexican Maid yall have a good day nah!


*NOTE It's AMAZING the above poster was thinking the same thing as I was at the same moment.

LoL ain't the truth Arizona will just attempt to repeal MLK as a holiday again before it ever tries to raise its minimum wage!

[tyedyeto]

6. Oh my!

You have the AZ 'good ole boy' routine down pat. That is exactly how they think here.

Nobody in this burb of Tucson even admits when it's MLK Day!

[noahmijo]

8. I'm in Tucson too actually

Howdy neighbor!! :hi:

[tyedyeto]

9. Hiya!

I'm south of there...in the reddest area of Pima County...Green Valley/Sahuarita. Damn those old farts who live here! I feel trapped!!!

Nice to meetcha, too. :hi:

[Redneck Socialist]

3. NH just voted down an increase.

Live free and die in poverty, that's the NH way. :-(

[On the Road]

4. Goddam Right It's Too Little

$206 a week for a full-time job minus FICA and witholding? You can't even find an apartment in the ghetto for that.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. Sad

If we were under president Kerry we would've had risen wadge's. *sigh*

[IChing]

10. map for your pleasure or anger

green
States with minimum wage rates higher than the Federal


yellow
States with no minimum wage law


blue
States with minimum wage rates the same as the Federal

red
States with minimum wage rates lower than the Federal



gold
American Samoa has special minimum wage rates

[NMMNG]

11. I'd like any f*ckwit who thinks you can live on $5.15 an hour

to try and do it for a year.

They'd change their mind pretty darn fast :grr:

Notice that the jagoffs who claim that anything under $10/hr is sufficient are those who make probably $50k a year plus all sorts of perks...