While Minnesota’s economy is improving, it has not improved for everyone. Low-income and working class families struggle to keep up with the rising costs of living. Minnesota has the third lowest wage in the entire country at a mere $6.15, well below the federal minimum wage of $7.25. The last time we increased the minimum wage in Minnesota happened nearly a decade year ago. Since that time, wages have not kept up with the increasing costs of living such as housing, groceries, gas and other necessities.
On Monday, DFL leaders in the House and Senate announced a deal to raise the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2016. Raising the minimum wage and indexing it to the rate of inflation will give 357,000 working Minnesotans a pay raise. Doing so will allow families to keep up with the rising costs of living instead of continuing to fall farther and farther behind. Raising the minimum wage will help raise members of our community out poverty and provide them with more economic security that they need and deserve.
The bill would increase the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour for large employers and $7.75 for small employers, phasing in the increase by 2016. Beginning in 2018, the minimum wage rate would be tied to the rate of inflation, increasing each year on January 1st, to ensure workers earning the minimum wage will not fall behind as the cost of living increases in the future.
People who work full time should not have to live in poverty. It is time to raise the minimum wage to $9.50 and indexing it to the rate of inflation to help working Minnesotans in neighborhoods like ours to provide for themselves and their families.
The House is expected to vote on raising the minimum wage today. Make your voice heard by calling your legislators and encouraging them to vote “yes” to increase the minimum wage and index it to inflation so working families can catch up and keep up.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or feedback. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-5158, by email at rep.rena.moran@house.mn, or by postal mail at 413 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155
Together we are stronger!
Sincerely,
Rena Moran
State Representative, District 65A