St Paul - Today, Representative Shannon Savick (DFL – Wells) started a week long challenge to live within the means of those who earn the minimum wage. Rep. Savick is one of five state House members who will be living on only $278 for the entire week.
Throughout the seven day challenge, Rep. Savick will have to set a budget based on food, housing, transportation, and other expenses. She will go shopping and search for affordable housing all within her new level of income as a way to experience what low wage workers experience on a daily basis.
“This experience will help us realize what it’s like to live on these low wages,” said Savick. “For many of us in Minnesota, we forget just how little many Minnesotans have to live on. This challenge will force us to experience that kind of struggle first hand.”
During each step along the way, Rep. Savick will be keeping track of her spending and her experiences to help offer insight for lawmakers as they consider a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage from $6.15 this session. Minnesota is one of four states in the entire country that have a minimum wage below that of the federal level of $7.25.
On the last day, they say they'll have a “reality check” meeting with low-wage workers to hear about their actual experience of living on a $7.25 hourly minimum wage.
Others taking part in the Minimum Wage Challenge, which kicks off today, are:
• Karen Clark, Minneapolis
• Frank Hornstein, Minneapolis
• John Lesch, St. Paul
• Jason Metsa, Virginia