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Trustee Archive
Due to the effects of offshoring and automation, many of our former well-paying jobs have been replaced with minimum wage jobs. In 2019, there were nearly 1.6 million American workers being paid the federal minimum hourly wage of $7.25 or less. Often referred to as the working poor, half of these people are over the age of 25 and most are women, many with families. In addition to their wages, most minimum wage earners are dependent on government benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid to survive. It is estimated that raising the minimum wage to $10.10/hour would lift nearly 2 million Americans out of government safety net programs. Advocates claim the minimum wage is too low to ensure that workers are able to meet a minimum standard of living while working a 40-hour week. These critics claim the minimum wage should be a minimum living wage, ensuring that everyone who is willing to work can get out of poverty.
Advocates claim that increasing the minimum wage is not the solution to low, unlivable wages because minimum wage increases occur infrequently and are often rendered meaningless by inflation. They say a “living wage,” indexed to inflation, holds the best promise of restoring our middle class. A living wage is the amount of income needed for workers to meet their basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing and healthcare. Some estimates have put this amount at about $15/hour. Opponents of increasing the minimum wage claim we need to be able to compete globally and that businesses can’t afford to pay higher wages without laying employees off.
Others disagree saying studies show that areas with higher wages do not suffer higher unemployment. They warn it is foolhardy to participate in a “race to the bottom” of the global labor market. Supporters acknowledge the modest effect a living wage could have on our economy, but point out that ours is a consumption-based economy, its success dependent upon our worker’s ability to buy the items we produce.
Pending Legislation: H.R.122 - Original Living Wage Act
Sponsor: Rep. Al Green (TX)
Status: House Committee on Education & the Workforce
Chair: Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC) |
- I oppose reforming current living wage policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).
- I support increasing the federal minimum wage to the minimum hourly wage sufficient for a person working for 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, to earn an annual income 25.5% higher than the federal poverty threshold for a four-person household, with two children under age 18, and living in the 48 contiguous states. (Under current poverty thresholds, the national minimum wage would be set at approximately $15.64 per hour.) The Department of Labor shall determine the minimum wage rate by June 1, 2021, and review it every four years. Dept. of Labor may not adjust the minimum wage to a lower rate.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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| Winning Option
»» No issues were voted |
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I support increasing the federal minimum wage to the minimum hourly wage sufficient for a person working for 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, to earn an annual income 25.5% higher than the federal poverty threshold for a four-person household, with two children under age 18, and living in the 48 contiguous states. (Under current poverty thresholds, the national minimum wage would be set at approximately $15.64 per hour.) The Department of Labor shall determine the minimum wage rate by June 1, 2021, and review it every four years. Dept. of Labor may not adjust the minimum wage to a lower rate.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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- Economic Policy Institute
If elected as a trustee, Economic Policy Institute will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to advocate for providing Americans with a fair, living wage.
The Economic Policy Institute’s mission is to inform and empower individuals to seek solutions that ensure broadly shared prosperity and opportunity. EPI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank created in 1986 to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions. EPI believes every working person deserves a good job with fair pay, affordable health care, and retirement security. To achieve this goal, EPI conducts research and analysis on the economic status of working America. EPI proposes public policies that protect and improve the economic conditions of low- and middle-income workers and assesses policies with respect to how they affect those workers.
- Representative Human Rights - Living Wage
If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting her to favorably consider passing H.R.122 - Original Living Wage Act.
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- No trustee votes received.
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| Poll Opening Date |
April 08, 2024 |
| Poll Closing Date |
April 14, 2024 |
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